Unité de Malherbologie & Agronomie Weed Science & Agronomy INRA-Dijon |
Bayer Code : meuof
Synonym(s) of Sc. name: Melilotus arvensis Wallr.
Classification: Leguminosae, Dicotyledonous
Common name: ribbed melilot
Synonym(s) of Common name:
Name per country: DE : Echter Steinklee ; ES : corona de rey ; FR : mélilot officinal ; IT : meliloto comune ; PT : ; EN : ribbed melilot ; NL : citroengele honingklaver ;
Biological type: Biennial
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- Cotyledons elliptic to ovate, rounded tip, more or less stalked.
- First leaf rhomboidal, broad, obtuse at the base; the later 3-foliolate.
- Height: 40-80 cm.
- Stem tall, branched, erect and tufted, later becoming woody.
- Leaves with leaflets 10-12 mm, ovate, lengthened, with 6-12 small acute teeth on the margin. Petiole nearly as long as the leaf. Stipules of median leaves with a more or less entire border.
- Flowers yellow, small, 4-5 mm, in long, narrow, spike -like racemes. Inflorescence dense at first, lengthening when ripe.
- Fruit : pod 3-5 mm long, transversely wrinkled, brown.
- Plant with an anti-coagulative compound (dicoumarol), it causes haemorrhage to cattle. Slight astringent used against conjunctivitis. Anti-spasms.
- Risk of confusion with other species of Melilotus and with some species of Medicago .
- Biological type: biennial
Mistake with: Melilotus , Medicago
Ecological profile (click on flags): Present Rare Rare Present Present