Family: Fabaceae
yellow sweet-clover
[Trifolium melilotus-officinalis L.]
Etymology: Melilotus: from the Greek words meli, "honey," and lotos, a leguminous plant
Plants: erect, annual/biennial, 1'-6' tall forb with many, widely-branching stems; taprooted
Leaves: 3-parted
Flowers: yellow, 5-parted, 1/8"-1/4" long; inflorescence of many, tall, long-stalked, clusters (raceme) of stalked flowers; blooms May-Sept.
Fruits: pod
Habitat: dry; disturbed sites
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Invasiveness: Invasive - Eradicate!
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive
Plants: erect, annual/biennial, 1'-6' tall forb with many, widely-branching stems; taprooted
Leaves: 3-parted
Flowers: yellow, 5-parted, 1/8"-1/4" long; inflorescence of many, tall, long-stalked, clusters (raceme) of stalked flowers; blooms May-Sept.
Fruits: pod
Habitat: dry; disturbed sites
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Invasiveness: Invasive - Eradicate!
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive
Fields, pastures, prairies, roadsides, railroad tracks, forest edges, farmyards, banks of rivers and streams, gravel lots, old quarries, dumps, waste areas, marshes, pine-oak woods, dunes, bluffs and rock outcrops. First collected in 1879.
Floristic Rating: Wetland Indicator = FACU Invasive And Exotic Species of North America: Descriptions, management issues, warnings, photos, etc. WIS DNR-Bureau of Endangered Resources: Detailed information on Wisconsin invasive species including decription, habitats, control methods USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"