Melilotus officinalis, (L.) Pallas

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 149

5. M. officinalis (L.) Pallas , Reise 3: 537 (1776)

( M. arvensis Wallr. ).

Decumbent or erect, branched biennial 40-250 cm. Leaflets of lower leaves obovate to ovate, the upper ovatelanceolate, all serrate. Racemes lax and slender, many-flowered. Corolla 4-7 mm, yellow; wings and standard equal, longer than keel. Legume 3-5 mm, transversly rugose, mucronate, glabrous, brown when ripe, usually 1-seeded; style often deciduous. 2zz=16. Cultivated ground, often on clay or saline soils. Most of Europe except the extreme south, but only as an alien in much of the north. Al Au *Be BI Bu Cz Ga Ge G r He *Ho Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (*N, *B, C, W, K, E) Sa Tu [Br Da Fe Hb No Su].