Practical
Plants

Melilotus indicus

Annual Yellow Sweetclover

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Spread
0.6 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.

The dried leaves can be toxic, though the fresh leaves are quite safe[7][4]. This is 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 - cooked[1].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The seed is made into a gruel and used in the treatment of bowel complaints and infantile diarrhoea[4][5]. The plant is discutient, emollient, astringent, strongly laxative and narcotic[4][5][6]. It is used externally as a poultice or plaster on swellings[4][5]. The plant contains coumarin, which is an anticoagulant[4]. The plant also contains dicumarol, which is a broad spectrum bactericide[4].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Anticoagulant
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

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

The leaves repel insects. They have been placed in beds to repel bedbugs[6].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean to E. Asia. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Fields and waste places in S. England and Wales[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
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[8]. 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 is often cultivated as a fodder crop and cultivars low in coumarin have been developed[4]. 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[3]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  5. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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