Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Melilotus albus
white sweet-clover
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; widely distributed across most of North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: May-October

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Generalist

Description:
General:

Sparsely puberulent to glabrous annual or biennial, the upright stems 0.5-3 m. tall, freely-branched above.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, trifoliate, the leaflets oblong to narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, serrate-dentate almost to the base; stipules linear, partially attached to the petiole.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of numerous, axillary, spike-like, bracteate racemes 4-12 cm. long; bractlets 2 mm. long; flowers pea-like, white, 2 mm. long; calyx narrowly bell-shaped, the 5 teeth broadly awl-shaped, equal.

Fruits:

Inflorescence of numerous, axillary, spike-like, bracteate racemes 4-12 cm. long; bractlets 2 mm. long; flowers pea-like, white, 2 mm. long; calyx narrowly bell-shaped, the 5 teeth broadly awl-shaped, equal.

Accepted Name:
Melilotus albus Medik.
Publication: Vorles. Churpfälz. Phys.-Öcon. Ges. 2: 382. 1787.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Melilotus alba Medik., orthographic variant [HC]
Melilotus albus Medik. var. annuus H.S. Coe
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Melilotus albus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Melilotus albus checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Melilotus albus information.

E-Flora BC: Melilotus albus atlas page.

CalPhotos: Melilotus albus photos.

USDA Plants: Melilotus albus information.

33 photographs:
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