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Melilotus indicus

(L.) All. (1785)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Melilotus

yellow sweet clover

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems erect or ascending, 1–5 dm long.

Roots: Taprooted.

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaflets oblong–elliptic, elliptic, or obovate (4–)15–20 mm long, (3–)7–10 mm wide. Margins serrate in upper part. Petiolate. Stipules lanceolate, widened at base and often with an additional lobe, margins dry and membranous.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary, spike-like racemes, 2.5–5 cm long. Flowers papilionaceous; bracteoles absent. Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed, the teeth subequal. Corolla yellow to pale yellow, 2–3 mm long, wings and keel equal in length, shorter than the standard, deciduous. Stamens 10; upper staminal filament distinct, the other 9 connate into a tube. Ovary superior; ovules few; style 1, apical, 0.7–1.2 mm long.

Fruit: Pods straight; pale gray when young; yellowish or reddish at maturity 1.5–2(–3) mm long; strongly reticulate–veined. Seeds usually 1.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Dry; disturbed areas; primarily along roadsides.

Elevation Range: 2–2,855 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Pedem. 1: 308 (1785)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:687 (Mi, K, O, M, H [as M. indica]); IPNI 2025 (spelling change to indicus)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
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