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Melilotus indicus
  • Annual Yellow Sweetclover

an annual 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
  • 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
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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 indicus has 0 edible uses listed
Melilotus indicus has 0 material uses listed
Melilotus indicus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The dried leaves can be toxic, though the fresh leaves are quite safe[1][2]. 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

Notes

Leaves - cooked[3].

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The leaves repel insects. They have been placed in beds to repel bedbugs[4].

Unknown part

Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seed is made into a gruel and used in the treatment of bowel complaints and infantile diarrhoea[2][5].

The plant is discutient, emollient, astringent, strongly laxative and narcotic[2][5][4]. It is used externally as a poultice or plaster on swellings[2][5]. The plant contains coumarin, which is an anticoagulant[2].

The plant also contains dicumarol, which is a broad spectrum bactericide[2].

Unknown part

Antibacterial
Anticoagulant
Astringent
Emollient
Laxative
Narcotic
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring to mid-summer in situ[6]. 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 indicus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Dislikes shade.

This species is often cultivated as a fodder crop and cultivars low in coumarin have been developed[2].

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[7]. 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.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Melilotus indicus. 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 indicus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Melilotus indicus
Genus
Melilotus
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3]
Medicinal uses
[2][5][4]
Material uses & Functions
[4]
Botanic
[8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
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
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 0.6 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).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. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.7 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 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)
    6. ? Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. (1982-00-00)
    7. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    8. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Melilotus indicus (Flower).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Melilotus_indicus&oldid=78661"
    Facts about "Melilotus indicus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
    Belongs to genusMelilotus +
    Functions asNitrogen fixer +
    Has binomial nameMelilotus indicus +
    Has common nameAnnual Yellow Sweetclover +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageMelilotus indicus (Flower).jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useRepellent +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has mature width0.6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntibacterial +, Anticoagulant +, Astringent +, Emollient +, Laxative +, Narcotic + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageMelilotus indicus (Flower).jpg +
    Has search namemelilotus indicus + and annual yellow sweetclover +
    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 indicus +
    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 indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus +, Melilotus indicus + and Melilotus indicus +