Melilotus indicus

Melilotus indicus - Blossom

The Small-flowered sweet clover ( Melilotus indicus ) is a Central European area as naturalized neophyte. It belongs to the pea family ( Faboideae ) of the genus Melilotus.

Description

The Small-flowered sweet clover is an annual, herbaceous plant that develops one usually 15 to 50 cm high growing, branched stems. The deciduous leaves are usually obovate to oblong - wedge- shaped and have six to nine pairs of lateral nerves. The stipules are subulate formed from serrated reason.

The dichtblütige flower cluster looks squat and extended until the end. The initially deep yellow crown is about 2 to 3 mm long and faded with age. The wings are shorter than the flag and in about as long as the boat. The bare shell is nearly spherical in shape and very blunt. It is reticular - wrinkled and stained yellow or reddish.

The Small-flowered sweet clover blooms mainly in the months of June and July.

Occurrence and distribution

It grows along roadsides, in fields, debris and other ruderal places. It prefers moderately dry, nutrient-rich sandy loam and clay soils. It is somewhat salt- loving. The home of the small-flowered sweet clover is the Mediterranean and the Indian subcontinent. Through procrastination and naturalization, the species is represented on almost every continent.

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland can be found Melilotus indicus rare and often unstable in the whole area.