This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Melilotus albus
  • White Melilot

an annual or biennial member of the Melilotus genus in the family Leguminosae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Green manure
    Green manure
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • neutral,alkaline
    Neutral to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Melilotus albus has 0 edible uses listed
Melilotus albus has 0 material uses listed
Melilotus albus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Dried leaves can be toxic though the fresh leaves are quite safe[1]. This is due to the presence of coumarin, the substance that gives some dried plants the smell of new mown hay. Taken internally it can prevent the blood from clotting[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves and seedpods - cooked as a 'bean soup'[3][4][5].

The pea-like seeds are used as a seasoning for bean and split-pea soups[6]. Young shoots - raw or cooked[3][5]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[6]. Only fresh shoots should be used[7], the dried leaves contain coumarin[2]. Flowers - raw or cooked[5]. Used as a vanilla-like flavouring[8][6].

The dried leaves are said to be used as a vanilla flavouring[5] but this is probably unwise, see notes at top of the page.

Unknown part

Condiment

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Seedpod

Unknown use

Material uses

An oil obtained from the seed is used in paints, varnishes etc[9].

The dried leaves smell of new-mown hay and are used as an insect repellent[5]. The dried leaves contain a substance called coumarin, this is an anti-clotting agent and has been used as a basis of the rat killer 'warfarin'[2].

The plant is a good green manure crop[10][11][5]. It can be sown in the autumn and overwintered or sown from spring to mid summer. It can be cut several times for compost material before being finally incorporated into the soil[11]. Fast growing, it produces a high bulk of organic material and also fixes a large quantity of atmospheric nitrogen[11]. It can also be grown under soft and top fruit, when it will expel mice[12].

Unknown part

Oil
Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole herb, harvested when in flower, is aromatic, carminative and emollient[13]. It was at one time widely esteemed as a medicinal herb, though it has fallen from favour in recent times[13].

The dried leaves contain coumarin, this can be used as an anticlotting agent for the blood[2].

The dried flowering plant has been used in ointments for external ulcers[14].

Unknown part

Anticoagulant
Aromatic
Carminative
Emollient
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Green manure


Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring to mid-summer in situ[11]. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water will speed up the germination process, particularly in dry weather[K]. Germination will usually take place within 2 weeks.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Melilotus albus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A fast growing plant[11], it dislikes shade.

A good bee plant[13][15]. The dried plant has a sweet smell of newly mown hay[16].

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[17].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Melilotus albus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Melilotus albus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Melilotus albus
Genus
Melilotus
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7][2][8]
Medicinal uses
[13][2][14]
Material uses & Functions
[9][5][2][10][11][12]
Botanic
[18]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Green manure, Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual, biennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    1.2 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.6 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers ISBN 0-7225-0445-4 (1977-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.7 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. ()
    10. ? 10.010.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.5 Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (1982-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    15. ? Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    16. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    17. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    18. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Melilotus alba.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Melilotus_albus&oldid=78658"
    Facts about "Melilotus albus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
    Belongs to genusMelilotus +
    Functions asGreen manure + and Nitrogen fixer +
    Has binomial nameMelilotus albus +
    Has common nameWhite Melilot +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers +, Leaves +, Seed + and Seedpod +
    Has edible useCondiment + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeBees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has imageMelilotus alba.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual + and Biennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil + and Repellent +
    Has mature height1.2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnticoagulant +, Aromatic +, Carminative +, Emollient + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageMelilotus alba.jpg +
    Has search namemelilotus albus + and white melilot +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceNeutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameMelilotus albus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus +, Melilotus albus + and Melilotus albus +