Annual Yellow Sweet Clover
Sourclover
Melilotus indicus
Yellow Sweet Clover growing in riparian habitat along Mesquite Wash, e. Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. May 2009.
ANNUAL: An herbaceous plant sometimes surpassing
1½ m in height with a number of stems branching from
crown.
FLOWERS: Yellow pea-flowers are crowded in spikes mostly at top of plant
and are generally small, less than 3 mm.
Blooming period is from mid spring into summer. The very similar perennial
species M. officianale with larger flowers may bloom through summer
and survive several seasons.
RANGE: In the Arizona Sonoran Desert this plant occurs along riparian
habitats and in irrigated farmlands and landscapes.
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