White Melilot is a
non-native
biennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in waste ground and roadsides, to a mature height of up to 150cm.
White Melilot, a plant native to Eurasia, was introduced into the UK in the nineteenth century. White Melilot has traditionally been grown as a fodder plant. The name 'Melilot' means 'honey clover' and this refers to the sweet smell of the plant's nectar-rich flowers. White Melilot is very similar to Yellow Melilot but is distinguished by its white flowers.
Botanic classification and naming: White Melilot is a member of the Pea (Fabaceae) family. The genus name
'Melilotus' identifies the plant as a Sweet-Clover and its species name 'albus' means 'white'.
Benefits: White Melilot produces a large volume of nectar to attract pollinators. It also has root nodules that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These make atmospheric nitrogen available to feed the plant and enrich the soil.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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