melilots and sweetclovers

genus Melilotus

Member of legume family (family Fabaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in California.

small melilot
Melilotus indicus

small melilot
Melilotus indicus

corolla 2.5–3 mm, yellow
inflorescence axis generally 1–2 cm when flowers open
stem 10–60 cm
corolla length is ± 1½–2½ × calyx length
wings length ± = banner length
wings and banner length ± ≥ keel length
leaflets 1–2.5 cm, oblanceolate to wedge-shaped-obovate, ± toothed
fruit 2–3 mm, bumpy or with faint lines
common

It came from French over 500 years ago, so the ’t’ is pronounced.

yellow sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis

corolla 4.5–7 mm, yellow
inflorescence axis generally 3–8 cm when flowers open
stem 50–200 cm
corolla length is ± 3–4 × calyx length
wings length ± = keel length
wings and keel length ≪ banner length
leaflets 1–2.5 cm, elliptic-oblong to obovate, ± toothed
fruit 3–5 mm, plump, irregularly cross-ridged
uncommon

white sweetclover
Melilotus albus

white sweetclover
Melilotus albus

corolla 3.5–5 mm, white
inflorescence axis generally 3–8 cm when flowers open
stem 50–200 cm
leaflets 1–2.5 cm, elliptic-oblong to obovate, ± toothed
fruit 3–5 mm, with network of lines
uncommon

2 observed taxons / 1 unobserved taxon / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 29 (27 are research grade)

Locations:

Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 5
Almaden Quicksilver CP: 4
Santa Teresa CP: 3
Coyote Hills RP: 2
Henry Coe SP: 2
Russian Ridge OSP: 2
Skyline Ridge OSP: 2
Calero CP
Fort Ord NM
Monte Bello OSP
Máyyan 'Ooyákma Coyote Ridge OSP
Pinnacles NP
Sierra Azul OSP
Sunol Wilderness RP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area
Waterdog Lake & Open Space

Months:

Mar.: 2
Apr.: 14
May: 4
Jun.: 6
Jul.: 2
Aug.: 0
Sep.: 0
Oct.: 1

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Not all sites include this taxon:

genus Melilotus → iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora
not yet listed → FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora