Herbs usually biennial, some­times annual, (15–)30–280 cm. Stems decumbent to erect. Leaves: stipules lanceolate or subulate, 3–6(–12) mm, margins entire; leaflet blades obovate, obovate-oblong, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, 8–25 × 4–15 mm, margins dentate. Racemes 30–70(–80)–flowered. Pedicels (1.5–)2–2.5 mm. Flowers 4–7 mm; corolla yellow; ovary glabrous. Legumes ovoid, 2.5–5 mm, transversely rugose, areoles notably elongated, glabrous. Seeds 1 (or 2), ovoid, obovoid, or ellipsoid, (1.5–)1.8–2(–2.5) mm. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Grasslands, slopes, plains, hillsides, waste places, roadsides, cultivated fields.
Elevation: 0–3100 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Eurasia, introduced also in Mexico, South America, Africa, Australia.

Discussion

Melilotus officinalis is occasionally grown as a forage crop, but it is generally considered to be an undesirable weed.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.