Yellow sweet clover

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• annual yellow sweet-clover
• small melilot
• small-flowered sweet-clover
• sour-clover
• California lucerne
• Hexham-scent
• Hexham-scent melilot
• Indian sweet-clover
• King Island melilot
• King Island-clover
• Annual Yellow Sweet Clover
• Hexham Scent
• Indian Sweetclover
• Melilot
• Stink Clover
• sourclover
• sweet clover
• snall melilot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trigonella berardii
• Sertula indica
• Trifolium melilotus-parviflorum
• Melilotus melilotus-indicus
• Melilotus minimus
• Trifolium indicum
• Melilotus parviflorus var. rubrocalyx
• Melilotus brachystachyus
• Trifolium melilotus
• Melilotus boumettii
• Melilotus neapolitanus var. macrocarpus
• Melilotus berardii
• Trigonella melilotus
• Melilotus bonplandii
• Melilotus indicus var. laxiflorus
• Melilotus rugulosus
• Trigonella smallii
• Melilotus permixtus
• Melilotus indicus var. parvulus
• Melilotus exaltatus
• Melilotus indicus var. permixtus
• Melilotus occidentalis
• Melilotus indicus var. exaltatus
• Melilotus parviflorus
• Melilotus indicus var. bonplandii
• Melilotus robinii
• Melilotus indicus subsp. permixtus
• Melilotus reticulatus
• Melilotus tommasinii
• Medicago parviflora
• Trifolium rugulosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Melilotus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions in the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is also found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be identified in countries such as Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, its geographical range extends into the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melilotus indicus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a strong association with human-altered environments. This species thrives within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), frequently colonizing disturbed sites shaped by human activity. Its elevational tolerance is extensive, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) to a maximum altitude of 2824 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2000 m AMSL. This wide vertical range allows the plant to adapt to diverse climatic conditions across varying mountain gradients.

Elevational range max:

2824 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Melilotus indicus are characterized by a specific karyotype that serves as a foundational element for its cytogenetic classification. A defining feature of its genomic structure is its chromosome number, which is consistently identified as 2n = 16. This diploid number provides the structural basis for its genetic inheritance and plays a critical role in the species' evolutionary stability and reproductive mechanisms. The arrangement and behavior of these 16 chromosomes during meiosis are central to the plant's genetic diversity and its ability to maintain phenotypic traits across generations.

Chromosome number :

16

Life history

The life history of Melilotus indicus is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by existing as a seed, producing ephemeral aerial parts that emerge only during favorable periods. This life form dictates its strategy of rapid growth and seed production to ensure survival in disturbed or transient habitats. Additionally, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal life cycle, which aligns with its transient existence as a seasonal herbaceous species.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Melilotus indicus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This terrestrial plant, which functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures for support. The shoots are oriented in an erect manner, growing upward from the ground. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melilotus indicus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a specialized ability for nitrogen fixation, facilitated by its symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria. As a non-carnivorous organism, it relies on its foliar structures for energy acquisition, which exhibit significant morphological variability. The leaves are elliptic in form, with dimensions ranging from a minimum leaf length of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, and a leaf width spanning from 0.2 cm to 1.4 cm. These measurements contribute to a mean leaf size of 3.82 cm², while the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 206 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation strategy regarding leaf thickness and surface area efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.82 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

206 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melilotus indicus is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The plant exhibits a flowering period that can be highly variable, typically centered around April, and features small yellow flowers ranging in length from 0.2 cm to 0.25 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a dehiscence-capable pod. These pods are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.3 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.3 cm) and a mean width of 0.3 cm (with a maximum of 0.2 cm). The reproductive output is prolific, often producing more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. Each seed maintains a consistent length of 1.75 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.0022503 g, though individual seed mass can range from a minimum of 0.000463 g to a maximum of 0.00743 g. Dispersal of these seeds is categorized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning they are frequently dispersed via human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.25 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.75 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00743 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0022503 g

Seed mass min:

0.000463 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Melilotus indicus has 9 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiperspirant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Acta biologica Hungarica
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antifungal

1. Acta biologica Hungarica
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antioxidant

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Antiperspirant

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Cytotoxic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Diuretic

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Laxative

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Narcotic

1. Acta biologica Hungarica

Tonic

1. Acta biologica Hungarica