Yellow sweet clover, Common yellow melilot
Melilotus officinalis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb which takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. It can be erect or spreading. It grows 2.5 m long. The stems are branched. The leaflets are oval or sword shaped and have teeth. The flowers are yellow and 4-7 mm long. They are in loose slender clusters. The wings and standard are longer than the keel. The pods are oval and 3-5 mm long. They are rough and brown with veins across them.

There are about 20 Melilotus species. They are temperate and subtropical. Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam is an unresolved name.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate places. It grows on roadsides and waste ground. It is often on clay of salty soils. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Don't use plants dried. Leaves and seeds flavour Gruyere cheese. The young leaves before flowering can be added to salads or boiled for 5 minutes. They are used as seasoning in baked rabbit. The leaves and flowers are used to flavour soups, stews and marinades. The leaves are used for tea. The seeds have been added to soups and stews as flavouring.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, seeds pod, seeds, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Isharvuyt, Kokotac, Legesteinklover, Melilot, Melist, Navadna medena detelja, Ribbed melilot, Trebol de olor amarillo

Synonyms

Medicago officinalis (L.) E. H. Krause; Melilotus arenarius Grecescu; Melilotus arvensis Wallr.; Melilotus melilotus-officinalis Asch. & Graebner; Melilotus neglectus Ten.; Melilotus petitpierreanus Willd.; Trifolium officinale L.;