Melilotus altissimus - Tall Melilot
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Fabales - Family: Fabaceae
Tall Melilot growing in the dunes at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, South Wales
Distribution
In the UK, Tall Melilot, also referred to as Golden Melilot or Yellow Sweetclover, is an introduced species brought in from Europe as a fodder crop. It has escaped into the wild and is now widely naturalised.
Description
This hairless member of the pea family Fabaceae grows up to 1.5 metres in height. Yjue stems are erect abd branching, and the sharply-toothed leaves are oblong
The bright yellow flowers, typically 6 mm long, are borne in long, upright many-flowered racemes.
Flowering times
The plants of Tall Melilot bear flowers between June and August.
The specimens shown on this page were growing in vegetated sand dunes at Kenfig NNR, South Wales, and were photographed in mid June.
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