Flower ID: IMG_1778.JPG-08-13-2017 Flower name (scientific): Melilotus officinalis (Linnaeus) Lamarck PY: 1779. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) mel-i-LOW-tus oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss Flower name (common): Yellow Sweet Clover Family name (common): Pea (Bean or legume) Family name (scientific): Fabaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek meli for honey, and lotos (lotus) for herbaceous leguminous plants typically found in meadows. Specific epithet: Sold based on its real or its conjectured medical qualities. Common name origin: From the flower color, its value as a nectar source for bees, i.e. a honey plant, and its use as a fodder crop. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.4 inches (0.3 to 1.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: Yellow Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 12 to 72 inches (30 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound Size: Leaflets up to 3 cm long and up to 1.2 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, trifoliate, leaflet, oblong, oblanceolate, or obovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized, ecologically invasive. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual or biennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, roadsides, meadows, fields, sun or part shade, dry or moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Melilotus albus (White Sweet Clover) is similar, except for the color of the flowers, which for this species are white. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Iroquois used the plant to treat sunburn and fevers. The Navajo employed the plant as a cold remedy (Moerman, p. 338, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Trifolium officinale Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 765 (1753). Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na