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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 Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melilotus indicus Mauna Kea; Hale Pohaku; Area II Growing in shaded area under mamane trees. Preserved_Specimen Rare. Char, W.P. 85.018 Hawaii BISH 1985-05-27
2 Melilotus indicus Parker Ranch, Puu Papapa Dry pasture Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 223 Hawaii BISH 1932-04-26
3 Melilotus indicus recent landfill at new water holding/chlorination tank Preserved_Specimen Plant 0.8 m. tall, much branching and in flower. Nagata, R. 815 Maui BISH 1981-10-28
4 Melilotus indicus Kahuku; James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, in vicinity of bird-viewing gazebo Weed on dry ground on levee between ponds. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9218 Oahu BISH 1992-04-05
5 Melilotus indicus Waikii Edges of cornfields. Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Hawaii BISH 1926-07-21
6 Melilotus indicus Along cane fields near Polihale State Park Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow. Flynn, T.W. 799 Kauai BISH 1984-03-13
7 Melilotus indicus Honolulu; grounds of Bishop Museum Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1932-06-01
8 Melilotus indicus Kealapuale, Kona Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 225 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-21
9 Melilotus indicus Growing next to Kaluanui Stream, approximately 1/2 mile from ocean Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-05-18
10 Melilotus indicus Jct. 37 & 377 on Kula Highway Preserved_Specimen Flowers slightly scented. Plants to 2 & 1/2 ft. tall. Hobdy, R.W. 472 Maui BISH 1979-04-04
11 Melilotus indicus Along Saddle Road on Waimea side of Pohakuloa State Park Preserved_Specimen Decumbent herb with yellow flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5339 Hawaii BISH 1975-05-20
12 Melilotus indicus Honolulu, grounds of Bishop Museum Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1932-04-18
13 Melilotus indicus Growing next to Kaluanui Stream, approximately 1/2 mile from ocean Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-05-18
14 Melilotus indicus Kahuku Point, 1 mile E. along Marconi Road Preserved_Specimen Barta, J. Oahu BISH 1984-06-01
15 Melilotus indicus Moanalua Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-04-06
16 Melilotus indicus M.A., Co Preserved_Specimen Borden, R. Oahu BISH 1936-03-06
17 Melilotus indicus Kahuku Point, 1 mile E. along Marconi Road Preserved_Specimen Barta, J. Oahu BISH 1984-06-01
18 Melilotus indicus U.H.Campus, Mauka Field Laboratory (Dept. of Agronomy and Soils) A weed growing on a dirt pile in full sun. Preserved_Specimen Flowers lemon-yellow. Lau, J. 2251 Oahu BISH 1986-04-15
19 Melilotus indicus Mamalahoa Highway between Saddle Road & Waikoloa Road Roadside through pasture. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 7161 Hawaii BISH 1987-06-28
20 Melilotus indicus Kamuela Planted pasture - med. rain Preserved_Specimen Perennial but matures seed 1st year. Flower white. Ewart III, G.R. 335 Hawaii BISH 1934-03-03
21 Melilotus indicus Dillingham Field Found growing along the trail into the Fillingham Field wetland. Growing among such adventives as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Hyptis, Setaria verticillata and other weeks. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 1104 Oahu BISH 1990-05-08
22 Melilotus indicus Hamakua Dist.; Pohakuloa Training Area, along Saddle Road Between the 30 & 45 mile markers & within 60' of road. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1990-12-13
23 Melilotus indicus Waialua District: Koolau Mts.; Kawailoa Along sugar cane fields. Preserved_Specimen Upright perennial 0.5 m height. Flowers yellow, fragrant. Nagata, K.M. 3250 Oahu BISH 1985-06-05
24 Melilotus indicus Within gully east of Puu Heewai, S.Kohala Growing with Tagetes, Amaranthus, Gnaphalium sandwicensium, Lythrum, Pennisetum, Melinis, Eupatorium, Sophora, and Myrsine. Preserved_Specimen Ht. 10 inches. Excellent vigor, yellow flowers. Clarke, G. 651 Hawaii BISH 1981-12-03
25 Melilotus indicus Lihue District: Niumalu Flat; Nawiliwili Bay along small boat harbor With Medicago polymorpha. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb with yellow corollas. Flynn, T.W. 2137 Kauai BISH 1987-04-03
26 Melilotus indicus Behind Kahuku Village. Koolauloa Along roads in abandoned sugar cane fields. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white. Erect, to 45 cm height. Nagata, K.M. 2327 Oahu BISH 1981-06-06
27 Melilotus indicus North Kona District: Puuanahulu AHU. Tr 43(47); between Mauna Loa & Hualalai; E. of Kipuka Kalawamauna Occasional-common; growing on `a`a substrate. Dry `ohi`a forest with mixed native trees and a native shrub and mixed grass understory. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1886 Hawaii BISH 1978-06-26
28 Melilotus indicus East Maui, Kula Highway Roadside. Preserved_Specimen A weed. Hobdy, R.W. 2831 Maui BISH 1987-06-05
29 Melilotus indicus Parker Ranch between Saddle Road and Puu Papapa Pasture Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5305 Hawaii BISH 1984-02-29
30 Melilotus indicus Kahuku Cemetery Planted for ground cover & foliage. Preserved_Specimen Small shrub. Perennial branching herb, leaves toothed at tip. Ziegelbauer, K. 4 Oahu BISH 1975-02-25
31 Melilotus indicus Kawela Bay, Opana Land flat, weedy roadside. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9227 Oahu BISH 1933-03-05
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