Melilotus altissimus
Thuill.
Fabaceae
Melilotus adriaticus Borbas
Melilotus linearis Pers.
Melilotus macrorrhizus Pers.
Melilotus palustris Schult.
Common Name: Tall Melilot
General Information
Melilotus altissimus is a biennial to short-lived perennial plant growing from a thick rootstock; the erect stems are up to 150cm tall[
1145- Title
- AgroAtlas
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/index.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line database of economic plants of Russia and the surrounding countries that formed the USSR, giving botanical descriptions, distribution, habitats and uses. It also gives comprehensive information on climate, soil, pests, diseases etc
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It has been cultivated as a food and medicinal plant in China[
].
Known Hazards
The plant contains coumarin, a substance produced by the plant because it acts as an appetite suppressant and gives some protection from grazing - it is also the compound that gives some dried plants the smell of new mown hay. Coumarin is found naturally in many fruits, including strawberries, black currants, apricots, and cherries; it also has some medicinal applications, though it is also known to be toxic, affecting especially the liver and kidneys. Coumarin is of relatively low toxicity to humans – indeed it has often been used as a flavouring and aromatic additive in foods and other commodities. However, it can be much more toxic to other species, especially rodents and specifically rats.
The fresh plant material, consumed in moderation, is generally safe. However, the dried plant material, especially if it is not dried properly and is invaded by fungi, is potentially much more toxic as the coumarin breaks down to form other compounds that can have a strongly anticoagulant effect upon the blood. Warfarin, a well-known anticoagulant drug and rat poison, is one of those compounds produced from coumarin.
Botanical References
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
74- Title
- Flora of the USSR.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Komarov. V. L.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Israel Program for Scientific Translation
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Found throughout most of Europe excluding Britain, Finland, the Baltic States and Belarus
Habitat
Waste places and woods, avoiding acid soils[
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
]. Wet meadows and pastures, at watersides, roadsides, in inhabited areas[
1145- Title
- AgroAtlas
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/index.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line database of economic plants of Russia and the surrounding countries that formed the USSR, giving botanical descriptions, distribution, habitats and uses. It also gives comprehensive information on climate, soil, pests, diseases etc
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Biennial/Perennial |
Height | 1.20 m |
Pollinators | Bees |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Melilotus species require a sunny position. They can succeed in a range of soil types, so long as they are well-drained, often being found where the soil pH is somewhat alkaline and generally disliking acid conditions.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves and seedpods - cooked as a 'bean soup'[
8- Title
- Free for All.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ceres.
- Publisher
- Thorsons Publishers
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-7225-0445-4
- Description
- Edible wild plants in Britain. Small booklet, nothing special.
].
Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
8- Title
- Free for All.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ceres.
- Publisher
- Thorsons Publishers
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-7225-0445-4
- Description
- Edible wild plants in Britain. Small booklet, nothing special.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. Also used as a flavouring[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
]. Only eat the fresh plant, it becomes toxic if it is dried[
62- Title
- A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Elias. T. and Dykeman. P.
- Publisher
- Van Nostrand Reinhold
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0442222009
- Description
- Very readable.
].
Medicinal
The seeds are used to treat colds[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
].
Other Uses
The dried plant is used as a moth repellent[
53- Title
- The Wild Garden.
- Publication
-
- Author
- De. Bray. L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Interesting reading.
].
The aromatic leaves are used to scent cosmetics[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Seed - sow spring to mid-summer in situ[
87- Title
- Green Manures.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Woodward. L. Burge. P.
- Publisher
- Elm Farm Research Centre.
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Green manure crops for temperate areas. Quite a lot of information on a number of species.
]. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water will speed up the germination process, particularly in dry weather[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Germination will usually take place within 2 weeks.
The seed produced by biennial species in this genus can have either hard or soft seedcoats. Soft-coatd seeds germinate quickly without treatment, but hard-coated seeds can remain dormant in the soil for several years before germinating. In cultivation, the hard-coated seed requires pre-soaking in warm water in order to soften the seedcoat[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
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