Melilotus indicus or Annual Yellow Sweetclover, is a wildflower that belongs to the Fabaceae family. It has a long history of being used for medicinal and culinary purposes in Europe and Asia, but it was first introduced to the United States in 1883.
It can now be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Kentucky Louisiana Maine Minnesota Mississippi North Carolina New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin as well as British Columbia Manitoba Nova Scotia and Greenland.
In This Article
Melilotus indicus Information
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Common Names | Annual Yellow Sweetclover |
| Introduced to USA | AL, AR, AZ, CA, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, KY, LA, MA, ME, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA VT, WA, WI |
| Introduced to Canada | BC, MB, NS |
| Introduced to Denmark | GL |
| Size | Up to 6 feet |
The plant is an erect annual herb with stems typically reaching 0.5-1 meter tall. The leaves are alternate along the stem and divided into three leaflets which have smooth margins with small hairs on their surfaces. Its flowers are bright yellow pea-like blossoms with five petals arranged around a central stalk containing numerous stamens tipped by yellow anthers that produce abundant amounts of pollen when mature.
Melilotus indicus prefers moist soils rich in nitrogen content such as those found near rivers or streams and will often grow close together forming dense patches of vegetation that can reach up to 1 metre tall if left undisturbed for long enough periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mecardonia procumbens edible?
No, Mecardonia procumbens is not an edible wildflower.
Is Mecardonia procumbens an invasive species of plant?
No, Mecardonia procumbens is not an invasive species of plant.