Family: Fabaceae
Melilotus officinalis
Citation:
Pallas, Reise Prov. Russ. Reichs. 3:537 (1776).
Synonymy: Trifolium Melilotus officinalis L., Sp. Pl. 765 (1753); M. arvensis Wallbr., Sched. Crit. 391 (1822).
Common name: Common melilot, yellow sweet clover.
Description:
Annual or biennial decumbent or erect branched annual, 0.5-2 m high; leaflets of lower leaves ovate to obovate, the upper ovate-lanceolate, all serrate.
peduncles 4-10 cm long, many-flowered, longer than the corresponding leaf; corolla 5-7 mm long; wing and standard equal, longer than the keel; ovary 5-8-ovulate.
pod obovoid, 3-5 mm long, mucronate, glabrous, strongly wrinkled transversely, brown when ripe; seed usually 1.
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Image source: fig. 352D in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Ross-Craig (1954) Drawings Brit. Pl. 7:pl. 20.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: EP, SL. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic. Originated in Europe; adventive in America and Africa. Occasional in Australia.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — Jan.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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