Common names:
Yellow sweet-clover, ribbed melliot
Family:
Scientific name:
Melilotus officinalis
Main flower color:
Range:
Commonest in Wales and southern England, though the range extends to northeast Scotland
Height:
Up to 150 cm
Habitat:
Waste ground, fields, grassland, verges
Flowers:
Elongated, slightly curving clusters along the upper 2 to 6 cm of the stem. The all-yellow flowers have approximately equal-sized banner and wing petals, and smaller keel petals. They are erect in bud, pendent when fully open
Fruit:
Hairless oval pods up to 6 mm long, crossed by transverse veins
Leaves:
Trifoliate, hairless, with oblong leaflets up to 2 cm in length, lined by small, sharp teeth
Season:
June to September
Rarity:
★★★★★
