2500 seeds of Melilotus officinalis, yellow sweet clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot

Melilotus officinalis, yellow sweet clover, yellow melilot seeds

 

 

Melilotus officinalis belongs to the family Leguminosae and genus Melilotus. It has common names such as sweet yellow clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot and common mellilot. It is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to North America, Australia and Africa.
It is an annual or a biennial plant that bears leaves, leaflets and stems. The leaves grow alternately. It produces yellow flowers in spring and summer. It produces fruits in pods that have one seed. The seeds can stay up to 30 years and still be viable. The plant grows to a height of up to 1.8 m. It has large tap roots and grows in groups. It also has a sweet odour.

They are mostly pollinated by the honey bees and are also pollinated by other bees and insects. Cross-pollination usually occurs during pollination. The seeds are dispersed by runoff water from rainfall and stream flow. Germination of seeds and seedling development starts from late March to April or early May. Temperature, site conditions, date of emergence and rainfall during the first year greatly affects plant development and the possibility of survival of this plant. It, therefore, needs optimum conditions to grow well.

Yellow sweet clover has both agricultural and environmental importance. It is used for livestock and pasture feed. The plant was used traditionally as a cover crop to increase the nitrogen content in the soil before the introduction of commercial fertilisers. In some areas, it is grown for soil reclamation. Yellow sweet clover is drought tolerant and a major source of nectar for bees. It has been used to treat soils that have been contaminated with dioxins. It is an invasive species in some areas and requires close management to restrict growth. It is used traditionally as medicine; however, one needs to consult a medical practitioner before using. Dried leaves are used as an insect repellent. Kalmuks eats the roots as food and young leaves as a salad. It can become an invasive species in a new area.

M. officinalis thrive in wastelands and roadsides. It grows well in highly alkaline soils. It can be found in places such as savannahs, open disturbed lands and prairies.
It grows well in calcareous loam and clay soils. It does well in a pH above 6.5. The plant cannot grow in acidic soils. The plant is drought resistant and can tolerate very low temperatures.