Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Melilotus officinalis
yellow sweet-clover
Specimens
Photos

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

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas.

Flowers: May-September

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Generalist

Description:
General:

Herbaceous biennial from a strong taproot, the stem 0.5-3 m. tall, freely branched above, glabrous to pubescent.

Leaves:

Leaves trifoliate, the leaflets elliptic to oblanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, serrate almost to the base.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of several elongate, spike-like racemes 3-12 cm. long, arising in the leaf axils, with linear bracts about 2 mm. long; flowers small, pea-like, white or yellow, about 5 mm. long; calyx teeth 5, equal, narrowly lanceolate.

Fruits:

Pod 3-4 mm. long.

Accepted Name:
Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.
Publication: Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 537. 1776.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

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

WA Flora Checklist: Melilotus officinalis checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Melilotus officinalis information.

E-Flora BC: Melilotus officinalis atlas page.

CalPhotos: Melilotus officinalis photos.

USDA Plants: Melilotus officinalis information.

31 photographs:
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