field melilot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• field melilot
• ribbed melilot
• yellow melilot
• yellow sweet-clover
• common melilot
• yellow trefoil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sertula bungeana
• Melilotus macrorrhizus var. palustris
• Melilotus officinalis f. maximus
• Trifolium officinale
• Medicago officinalis
• Sertula officinalis
• Trifolium melilotus-mauritanicum
• Sertula pallida
• Melilotus virescens
• Melilotus expansus
• Melilotus flavus
• Melilotus petitpierreanus
• Sertula arvensis
• Melilotus diffusus
• Trifolium vulgare
• Melilotus neglectus
• Trifolium palustre
• Melilotus arvensis proles luxurians
• Melilotus mauritanicus
• Trifolium petitpierreanum
• Melilotus montanus
• Melilotus arvensis proles maximus
• Brachylobus officinalis
• Melilotus arvensis
• Melilotus arvensis var. albus
• Melilotus bungeanus
• Trigonella officinalis
• Melilotus armenus
• Melilotus arvensis var. grandiflorus
• Melilotus macrospermus
• Melilotus arvensis var. maximus
• Melilotus luteus
• Melilotus officinalis var. expansa
• Melilotus maximus
• Melilotus officinalis var. maximus
• Melilotus pallidus
• Melilotus palustris
• Melilotus luxurians
• Melilotus longipedicellatus

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, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Melilotus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as sweet clover, exhibits a specific distribution across several Northern European regions. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark. Additionally, its presence is documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. The species is also widely distributed across Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends further north into Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melilotus officinalis is characterized by its broad adaptability to various environmental conditions and diverse landscapes. It thrives in a wide range of habitats, commonly colonizing crop fields, meadows, old fields, roadsides, and even saline places. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal tolerance, with an elevational range extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit both lowland plains and high-altitude mountainous regions.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, meadows, old fields, roadsides, saline places

Genetics

The genetics of Melilotus officinalis are characterized by a complex and highly variable karyotype, reflecting a history of polyploidization events within the species. The chromosomal constitution of this plant is notably diverse, with recorded chromosome numbers including 16, 24, 32, 36, and 64. This wide range of ploidy levels suggests that the species undergoes frequent genome doubling, which contributes to its evolutionary adaptability and phenotypic plasticity. Such chromosomal variation is a key genetic feature that influences the plant's ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches and may play a significant role in the stabilization of its secondary metabolite profiles.

Chromosome number :

16, 24, 32, 36, 64

Life history

The life history of Melilotus officinalis is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on environmental conditions and local adaptation. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennating buds at the soil surface, allowing it to persist through unfavorable seasons. It exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal shifts. As a species with a flexible developmental strategy, its growth pattern and longevity are heavily influenced by its ecological niche, transitioning between different lifecycle stages to optimize survival and reproductive success.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Melilotus officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This terrestrial plant is independent, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variability in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 1.169 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.16933333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melilotus officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, while leaf widths vary between 0.4 cm and 2.2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 6.025 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 201.825 cm²/g, reflecting its internal leaf structure and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.025 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

201.825 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melilotus officinalis is characterized by a specialized flowering period that typically begins in August and concludes in June, exhibiting variable timing. This medicinal plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect-based syndrome with a strong preference for bees to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is notably absent. The reproductive structure produces dry, dehiscence-type fruits classified as pods, which measure between 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in length. As a monocarp, the plant follows a specific life cycle regarding fruit production, and it does not engage in asexual reproduction. The resulting seeds are small and consistent in dimensions, with a mean length of 2.5 mm (ranging from a minimum to maximum of 2.5 mm) and a mean volume of 2.35 mm³ (ranging from 2.2 to 2.5 mm³). These seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.002446 g, with individual seed masses ranging from 0.001358 g to 0.00507 g. Seed dispersal is achieved through a combination of anemochorous (wind) and autochorous (self-dispersing) mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00507 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00244579175 g

Seed mass min:

0.001358 g

Seed volume max:

2.5 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2.35 mm³

Seed volume min:

2.2 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Melilotus officinalis has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarin, Soyasaponin I, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, Acetylsoyasaponin I, Astragaloside VIII.

coumarin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Soyasaponin I

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

4-hydroxy benzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylsoyasaponin I

1. Dr. Duke

Astragaloside VIII

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Azukisaponin V

1. Dr. Duke

Coumaric Acid

1. Dr. Duke

Coumarins

1. ACS omega

DIOSGENIN

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Melilotus officinalis has 346 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Melilotus officinalis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, nociception.

Antidiabetic

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Nociception

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Melilotus officinalis has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Meliloti herba, extracts, methanolic extracts.

Meliloti herba

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. ACS omega

Methanolic extracts

1. Veterinary parasitology