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White Sweetclover

Melilotus albus

Photo by QWMom
Published on Project Noah
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43.08, -79.06

Field Notes

Description:

Growing up to 10 feet tall, narrow racemes arise from leaf axils and bear small white, sweet-smelling blossoms that are highly attractive to bees. (It's for this reason sweet clover has been used for honey production.) The leaves are trifoliate and somewhat narrower.

Habitat:

White sweet clover is native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced to North America in the 17th century for cattle forage purposes and is now widespread throughout Canada and the United States, where it has become invasive and can outcompete native plant species. White sweet clover can grow up to 2 meters in height and can produce abundant amounts of seeds that readily float and disperse in water. This has allowed the plant to colonize natural habitat such as riparian areas all across much of North America. Having escaped and naturalized, it grows in a variety of habitats, and is reportedly more invasive in northern temperate climates than in southern.

Found in:
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY

Notes:

Spotted near Three Sisters Island above Niagara Falls.

Species ID Suggestions

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