Practical
Plants

Melilotus altissimus

Tall Melilot

a biennial or perennial member of the Melilotus genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Dried leaves can be toxic though the fresh leaves are quite safe[8]. (This is possibly due to the presence of coumarin, the substance that gives some dried plants the smell of new mown hay. If taken internally it can prevent the blood from clotting.)

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and seedpods - cooked as a 'bean soup'[9]. Young shoots - cooked[9][2][3]. Also used as a flavouring[5]. Only eat the fresh plant, it becomes toxic if it is dried[7].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seedpod

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried plant is used as a moth repellent[6].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Waste places and woods, avoiding acid soils[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring to mid-summer in situ[10]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Dislikes shade. 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[4].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  5. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  6. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

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  7. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  8. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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  9. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩1↩2

  10. Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. 1982-00-00

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