Melilotus altissimus - Tall Melilot

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Fabales - Family: Fabaceae

Tall Melilot growing in the dunes at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, South Wales

Distribution

In the UK, Tall Melilot, also referred to as Golden Melilot or Yellow Sweetclover, is an introduced species brought in from Europe as a fodder crop. It has escaped into the wild and is now widely naturalised.

Description

This hairless member of the pea family Fabaceae grows up to 1.5 metres in height. Yjue stems are erect abd branching, and the sharply-toothed leaves are oblong

The bright yellow flowers, typically 6 mm long, are borne in long, upright many-flowered racemes.

Flowering times

The plants of Tall Melilot bear flowers between June and August.

The specimens shown on this page were growing in vegetated sand dunes at Kenfig NNR, South Wales, and were photographed in mid June.