White Sweet Clover
Melilotus albus
Melilotus officinalis
White Sweet Clover growing in riparian habitat along Mesquite Wash, e. Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. Sept. 2009.
ANNUAL or PERENNIAL: An herbaceous plant sometimes reaching
2 m in height with a number of stems branching from crown.
FLOWERS: Small, white pea-flowers are crowded in spikes mostly at top of
plant and are generally small, usu. 3 mm
to 5mm. Blooming period is from late spring into fall. Recently taxonomists
have determined this plant to be the same species as perennial sweet clover, Melilotus
officianalis, which has yellow flowers. The flowers of white sweet
clover are much more attractive to bees and wasps than yellow so for the bees
the difference does matter.
RANGE: In the Arizona Sonoran Desert this plant occurs along riparian
habitats. This native of Eurasia found in disturbed habitats across all of
North America.
LEAVES: Compound leaves have 3-5 leaflets and are dentate along the
margins.
FRUIT:The small bean pods have just one kidney-shaped bean each.
UNARMED