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Melilotus officinalis

Authority (L.) Lam. Family Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae Synonyms Common names anafe amarelo, common sweet clover, coroa de rei, Hart's clover, Hart's trefoil, king's clover, melilot officinal, Meliloti flos, Meliloti herba, melist, Steinklee, trébol amarillo, trébol dulce amarillo, trevo de cheiro amarelo, trevo real, yellow melilot, yellow sweet clover Editor Ecocrop code 7691

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION An erect, many branched legume becomming progressively woody, reaching 0.3-2.8 m in height. It has yellow flowers and a deep taproot. USES Cultivated for forage, hay, pasture, soil-improvement, and erosion control. The flowers is a source of honey. Parts of the plant are used to flavor cheese and tobacco snuff and an antithrombotic preparation can be obtained. The roots are edible. GROWING PERIOD Biennial or annual. Flowers summer and fall and fruits late summer and fall. In the United States it is sown in the spring, and harvested August-October. COMMON NAMES Yellow sweetclover, Chicory. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: M. arvensis, M. burgeana, M. diffusa, M. expansa, M. pallida, M. rugosa, Trifolium melilotus-officinalis, T. petitpierreanum. The seeds are said to poison horses. Cattle are said to be poisoned be eating moldy hay. Found from sea level up to 4000 m in elevation.
Sources
Grassland Index Hackett C 1982 pp 27 Duke J 1975 pp 12 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Roecklein J 1987 pp 193 [USE, PH, DRA] Heath M 1985 pp 148 [USE] B-Lennard E 1984 pp 14 [SAL] Duke J 1981 pp 167-169 [TEXT, FER, DRA, KTMP, SAL, RAIN, TEMP, PH] Ahlgren G 1956 pp 113-123 [TEXT, FER, PH, DRA, RAIN, TEMP, USE]