Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Melilotus parviflorus
Other common names
Indian sweet-clover
sweet clover
Bokhara clover, small-flowered sweet clover, common melilot, small-flowered melilot, small melilot, sweet meli
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Melilotus officinalis
Height
3 feet
Riparian
No
Erect annual to 3 feet tall with smooth herbage or leaves; compound leaves, 3 leaflets similar to clover leaf, with sharp teeth on upper half; yellow flowers on elongated clusters, sparsely hairy when young.
Colonizes disturbed areas; <3 feet tall; stems; leaves not hairy; leaflets wedge-shaped to rounded; stipules narrow, tapering to fine points; young flower stems with sparse hairs pressed against the stem; elongated clusters of small yellow flowers.
Habitat
Occasionally along roadsides, ditches, in fields, and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
0
High elevation
4500
Flower Characteristics
Narrow, vertical, elongated clusters of several dozen flowers, clusters extend beyond leaves; 5 green sepals are partly fused, flowers have 5 yellow petals consisting of banner, wings and keels, upper banner petal curved back 45 degrees.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems and leaves not hairy; compound leaves on slender stalks up to 2 inches long; 3 leaflets, leaves clover-like, narrow at base, round at tip, tend to fold up along axis and are often orientated upwards, at right angles to stalk, upper parts toothed.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruits are egg-shaped pods, 1/16 inch long, smooth, reticulate (net-like veining), typically with 1 seed.
Fruit type
Pod