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Melilotus albus

Medik. (1787)

This name is accepted

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

white sweet clover

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual or short-lived perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems erect, 3–15(–30) dm long.

Roots: Taprooted.

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaflets elliptic to obovate, 10–30(–40) mm long, 5–20 mm wide. Margins serrate in upper part. Petiolate. Stipules lanceolate, not widened at base, margins not dry and membranous.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary, spike-like racemes, 4–15 cm long. Flowers papilionaceous; bracteoles absent. Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed, the teeth subequal. Corolla white, 4–5 mm long, standard and wings equal in length, longer than the keel, deciduous. Stamens 10; upper staminal filament distinct, the other 9 connate into a tube. Ovary superior; ovules few; style 1, apical, 1.7–2.3 mm long.

Fruit: Pods straight; pale to dark brown at maturity; 3–4(–5) mm long; strongly reticulate–veined. Seeds usually 1.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 24; 32; 36; 64

Habitat: Uncommon in disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 5–1,340 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Vorles. Churpfälz. Phys.-Ökon. Ges. 2: 382 (1787)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:686 (Mi, H); Wagner & Herbst 1995:20 (EM); Shannon & Wagner 1996:14 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2004:12 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melilotus albus Medik. along saddle rd, near waikii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 2645 Hawaii BISH 4/2/1983
2 Melilotus albus Medik. Saddle Road at Waikii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stemmermann, R.L. 7159 Hawaii BISH 6/28/1987
3 Melilotus albus Medik. puu nohonaohae, s kohala dist PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. nagata, w. teraoka & c. corn 2020 MEL 1/13/1980
4 Melilotus albus Medik. S. Kohala District, Nohohaohae cinder cone Fairly common in pature, also grows on pu`u. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. 230 Hawaii BISH 3/19/1980
5 Melilotus albus Medik. Puu Nohonaohae, S Kohala Dist PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K. M.; Teraoka, W.; Corn, C. 2020 Hawaii US 1/13/1980
6 Melilotus albus Medik. Maunahui PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 11095 Molokai US 4/8/2028
7 Melilotus albus Medik. Hawaii Belt Road (Mamalahoa Hwy.), ca. 8.5 miles from Waimea. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1290 Hawaii PTBG 10/16/1985
8 Melilotus albus Medik. Wailuku, naturalized in sandy soil, in waste area near gold course. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H110203 Maui PTBG 11/4/2002
9 Melilotus albus Medik. maunahui PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 11095 Molokai US 4/8/1928
10 Melilotus albus Medik. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. r. herbst & w. n. takeuchi 6368 Oahu US 6/29/1980
11 Melilotus albus Medik. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D. R.; Takeuchi, W. N. 6368 Oahu US 6/29/1980
12 Melilotus albus Medik. jct. kula highway (37 & 377), kula Accession # 71.0411 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hobdy, r.w. collector number: 473 Oahu BISH 4/4/1979
13 Melilotus albus Medik. west maui, wailuku district, wailuku... in waste area near golf course Shaded earthquake crack. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h110203 Hawaii BISH 11/4/2002
14 Melilotus albus Medik. S. Kohala, Nohonaohae cinder cone Collected on slopes, also seen in pasture. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. 245 Hawaii BISH 3/20/1980
15 Melilotus albus Medik. S. Kohala, Nohonaohae cinder cone Collected on slopes, also seen in pasture. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. Collector Number: 245 Hawaii BISH 3/20/1980
16 Melilotus albus Medik. s. kohala district, nohohaohae cinder cone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN cuddihy, l.w. collector number: 230 Lanai BISH 3/19/1980
17 Melilotus albus Medik. east maui, along kula highway Roadside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hobdy, r.w. collector number: 2830 Maui BISH 6/5/1987
18 Melilotus albus Medik. West Maui, Wailuku District, Wailuku... in waste area near golf course naturalized in sandy soil, in waste area near golf course PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H110203 Maui BISH 11/4/2002
19 Melilotus albus Medik. S. Kohala District, Nohohaohae cinder cone Fairly common in pature, also grows on pu`u. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Cuddihy, L.W. Collector Number: 230 Hawaii BISH 3/19/1980
20 Melilotus albus Medik. East Maui, along Kula Highway Roadside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hobdy, R.W. 2830 Maui BISH 6/5/1987
21 Melilotus albus Medik. s. kohala, nohonaohae cinder cone Tall climber in dense wood. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN cuddihy, l.w. collector number: 245 Oahu BISH 3/20/1980
22 Melilotus albus Medik. midway atoll Growing at the edge of the golf course. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. takeuchi, w.n. collector number: 6368 Midway Atoll BISH 6/29/1980
23 Melilotus albus Medik. Midway Atoll Growing at the edge of the golf course. PreservedSpecimen Herbst, D.R. Takeuchi, W.N. Collector Number: 6368 Midway Atoll BISH Specimen 6/29/1980
24 Melilotus albus Medik. Along Saddle Rd, near Waikii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 2645 Hawaii BISH 4/2/1983
25 Melilotus albus Medik. saddle road at waikii In full sun. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stemmermann, r.l. collector number: 7159 Oahu BISH 6/28/1987
26 Melilotus albus Medik. Jct. Kula Highway (37 & 377), Kula PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hobdy, R.W. 473 Maui BISH 4/4/1979
27 Melilotus albus Medik. Midway Atoll Growing at the edge of the golf course. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 6368 Midway Atoll BISH 6/29/1980
28 Melilotus albus Medik. West Maui, Wailuku District, Wailuku... in waste area near golf course naturalized in sandy soil, in waste area near golf course PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H110203 Maui BISH 11/4/2002
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