October, 2003 VB
October, 2003 VB
October, 2003 VB
October, 2003 VB
Leaf: Alternate, palmately
compound with 3 leaflets, leaflets being long-oval, oblong, rounded at the tip,
tapering to the base, up to 2.5 cm long and longer than broad; margin finely
toothed; upper surface smooth or sometimes hairy; petiole nearly as long
as the terminal leaflet.
Flower: Crowded
around the top of the plant, borne in slender racemes, up to 10 cm long;
blooming
June to September; each flower tiny, with 5 yellow petals,
arranged to form a typical pea-shaped flower, the largest petal about 4 mm long,
10 stamens, 5 sepals..
Fruit: Pod 4 mm long, usually slightly hairy; green, turning black with ripening; containing one smooth, kidney-shaped seed; seed 2 mm long, brownish-yellow.
Stem: Upright, branched, usually smooth; up to 2.1 m tall.
Form: Upright, many-branched obligate biennial forb.
Discussion
Yellow sweet clover's genus name, Melilotus is Greek, Meli meaning honey, and lotos meaning legume. Its species name officinalis means "sold as an herb."
The nectar of this herb tends to draw a crowd of swarming bees and other insects. Songbirds and upland gamebirds arrive to feed on the insects. Upland gamebirds also use the plant as nesting material and winter cover. Yellow sweet clover is grazed upon by deer, antelope, and livestock.
Yellow sweet clover is grown as a forage plant. However, moldy hay made from some varieties of this plant may poison livestock, as the chemical coumarin in the sweet clover converts to dicoumerol as the hay heats and spoils. Dicoumerol is a blood thinner, and may cause internal bleeding in animals that eat such hay. As a member of the legume family, this plant harbors nitrogen-fixing bacteria on its roots, improving the soil in which it grows.
The plant is sometimes a choice for revegetation of disturbed areas as it is a pioneer species in secondary succession, readily moving onto bare ground after a disturbance. Each plant may produce over 100,000 seeds.
Hundreds of years ago, Egyptians used yellow sweet clover in a tea to treat intestinal worms and earache.
It is still used medicinally today, especially in England as a salve for wounds and scars. Some pharmacists even prescribe "Melilot of Plasters." The long term use of yellow sweet clover can reduce the appearance of varicose veins and help hemorrhoids. Some say that it also relieves flatulence.
Yellow sweet clover is used when making soups and stews, and is helpful with the manufacturing of cheese. When crushed, it retains a sweet scent of vanilla.
Yellow sweet clover is non-native, originating in the Mediterranean region of Europe, and first reported in North America in 1739.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Yellow sweet clover can be distinguished by its 3 leaflets that are finely toothed, the middle leaflet occurring on a distinct stalk, and the yellow flowers occurring in a long narrow inflorescence. No other member of the pea family has this combination of characteristics.
Associated Plants
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), Snakeroot (Eupatorium altissimum), White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba), and giant foxtail (Setaria faberi).
Distribution
Yellow sweet clover is found in all 50 states of
the U.S., inhabiting roadsides, abandoned fields, railroad ballasts,
pastures, and any unflooded, open natural community such as a prairie.
Images
Click each small picture to see a larger image.
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Location
N 39.27966° W
-89.89067°
In the northwest corner of a vacant lot next to McDonald's on West Main Street
in Carlinville, Macoupin County, IL.
Copyright
Photos © 2003 Victoria Bullard and Jayme Naples, Carlinville High School, linke@carlinvilleschools.net
References
Mohlenbrock, Robert H. 1981. Wildflowers of fields, roadsides, and open
habitats of Illinois. Illinois Dept. of
Conservation, Division of Forest Resources and Natural
Heritage, Springfield. 226 pp.
Stubbendieck, James, Geir Y. Friisoe, and Margaret R. Bolick.
1994. Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains. Nebraska Dept. of
Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Lincoln. 589 pp.
Vegetation Management Guideline; Conservation Commission of Missouri 12/03
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/exotic/vegman/twentyfi.htm
Maggie Cole. Illinois Nature Preserves Commission 12/03
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/outreach/VMG/wysclover.html
Canada's
Northwest Territories 12/03
http://www.gov.nt.ca/RWED/parks/education/u_z/wildflowers_pea2.htm
Missouri Wildflowers; Marzon Inc. 12/03
http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/Flowers/YellowSweetClover.html
Andy Fyon 12/03
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/eabametoong.htm#cloveryellowsweet
Purdue
University 12/03
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/yellow_floweredSweetClover.html
Texas Wildflowers 12/03
http://pages.prodigy.net/jospencer/sw_clover.htm
The
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.
http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/forbhtml/yellowsweetclover.html