*Melilotus albus Medikus. White Melilot, White Sweetclover. Phen: Apr-Oct. Hab: Fields, roadsides, disturbed areas. Dist: Native of Eurasia.

Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia

Taxonomy Comments: The similar M. albus and M. officinalis are apparently incompatible (Isely 1998) and differ in less obvious ways than flower color; they should not be synonymized, as was done by Kartesz (1999, 2010). Other differences useful in the determination of faded herbarium specimens are given by Isely (1998) and Yatskievych (2013): corolla 3.5-5 mm long, the wing petals about as long as the keel, ovaries narrowed at base, mature fruits with a network of raised nerves (M. albus) vs. corolla 5-7 mm long, the wing petals generally longer than the keel, ovaries noticeably stalked at base, mature fruits with a pattern of cross-nerves or merely with irregular cross-wrinkles (M. officinalis).

Synonymy: = Ar, Il, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Tx, Va, WH3, Isely (1998), Stace (2010); = Melilotus alba – Bah, C, F, G, GrPl, Pa, RAB, S, SE3, Tn, W, WV, orthographic variant; < Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. – K1, K3, K4

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