WHITE MELILOT

Bokhara Clover

Melilotus albus

(Formerly: Trigonella alba)
Pea Family [Fabaceae]  

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8Aug

status
statusZneophyte
 
flower
flower8white
 
morph
morph8zygo
 
petals
petalsZ5
 
type
typeZspiked
 
stem
stem8round
stem
stem8ribbed
ribbed

21st June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
A huge lot of Melilot, both Ribbed and White.


21st June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
Which has an un-tidy straggly appearance. White Melilot is a tall plant, up to 1.5m and the most easily identified Melilot on account of it being the only white-flowered one (there are a few yellow-flowered Melilots).


21st June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
Much branched, and with trefoil leaves.


22nd June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
Has numerous spikes of pea-like white flowers.


29th June 2014, sand-pit, Marshside, Southport, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
The upper part of the plant.


12th June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
And most of the leaves moth-eaten.


12th June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
The plume of white flowers.


29th June 2014, sand-pit, Marshside, Southport, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
The yellow inner parts of the flower are visible in transmitted light.


12th June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
The stem is ridged in places.


21st June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
The flowers have the usual pea-like 5 petals.


8th Aug 2015, sand dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
Clear view of the 5 sepals.


222nd June 2006, Middlewood Locks, M/cr Bolton & Bury Canal, Salford. Photo: © RWD
The leaves oval, toothed and trefoil, the middle on an extended stem.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics : There is no other flower quite like this; all other melilots of similar disposition are some shade of yellow.

Distinguishing Feature : The numerous spikes of short white pea-like flowers.

Also known as Bokhara Clover from a time when it was grown for fodder. Your author could find no leaves that were not half-eaten. The stem is angular, and sometimes ridged.

White Melilot contains the coumarin DiCoumarol, which is a dimer.

The large plot of land that the two kinds of Melilots had sprung up in (Ribbed and White Melilot) had been cleared of factories a few years previously to expose the old canal-bed of the Manchester bolton & Bury Canal which starts 500 yards towards Manchester on the River Irwell. This land had initially been cleared for a dry-ski slope which came to naught, now it carries the newly restored Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal with several locks, both old and new, following as far as was practical the old layout (which had changed course and position of locks over the centuries since it was built). For the inaugural re-opening of the canal (as far as it goes at present, which is not far) the land was cleared of vegetation and landscaped again; the Melilots may not return.

Middlewood Locks, Salford. Manchester in Background.


  Melilotus albus  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Fabaceae  

Distribution
family8pea family8Fabaceae family8Leguminosae
 BSBI maps
genus8melilotus
Melilotus
(Melilots)

WHITE MELILOT

Bokhara Clover

Melilotus albus

(Formerly: Trigonella alba)
Pea Family [Fabaceae]  

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