Melilotus altissimus, Tall Melilot

Common Name: Tall Melilot

Melilotus altissimus, more commonly known as Tall Melilot, is an introduced species in the UK, originating from Europe and commonly used as a fodder crop alongside its relatives White Melilot (Melilotus albus) and Ribbed Melilot (Melilotus officinalis). It has now naturalised and can be found along field edges and roadside verges, and on waste ground and disturbed soils. It is a straggling plant that flowers from June to August.

Tall Melilot has small, pea-like, yellow flowers borne on tall spikes (unsurprisingly, White melilot has white flowers). Ribbed Melilot also has yellow flowers, but has looser flower spikes. In Tall Melilot, the flowers are followed by black, hairy seed pods, whereas the seed pods of Ribbed Melilot are olive-green and hairless. Mainly found in Central and Southern England; scarce in Scotland.

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