Melilotus officinalis / Melilot Herb

Melilotus officinalis, known as yellow sweet clover, yellow melilot, ribbed melilot and common melilot is a species of legume native to Eurasia and introduced in North America, Africa and Australia.

Melilotus officinalis can be an annual or biennial plant, and is 4–6 feet high at maturity.

M. officinalis is native to Europe and Asia and has been introduced to North America as a forage crop.  It commonly grows in calcareous loamy and clay soils with a pH above 6.5 and can tolerate cold temperatures and drought; it does not tolerate standing water.  Common places where it can be found include open disturbed land, prairies, and savannahs, and it grows in full or partial sunlight. It is an invasive species in areas where it has been introduced, especially in open grasslands and woodlands where it shades and out competes native plant species.