Sweet clover

Sweet clover (Melilotus), also known as honey clover, is a genus of plants belonging to the butterfly family (Faboideae) within the legume family (Fabaceae) and can reach up to 1 m in height. Most (about 20) species occur from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Sweet clover species are annual to biennial herbaceous plants with small yellow or white racemose inflorescences. Sweet clover sprouts small legumes with 1-4 seeds.
The dried herb ( meliloti herba) is used phytotherapeutically. Drying produces the volatile coumarin.

Yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) or also true sweet clover is widespread in Eurasia. Neophytic also in Africa, North, Central and South America and Australia.
In the field sweet clover is used as a pasture plant, especially as a bee pasture and for green manure. Cut sweet clover is used to make hay or silage. The coumarin released when the plants dry out gives off the typical aromatic hay smell.
Poorly stored hay contains dicumarol, a breakdown product of coumarin; dicumarol leads to blood coagulation disorders in cattle.

Melilotus officinalis is the parent plant of Meliloti herba, the above-ground plant parts of sweet and melilotus clover collected at flowering time (Off. Ph.Eur.8, monograph HMPC, ESCOP, Commission E)

Preparations
:Phlebodril® Cream, Venalot® Liniment

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/steinklee.php
2. Wenigmann M.(2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs phytopharmaceuticals application. Urban & Fischer: 5.107 Ribwort leaves (Plantaginis lanceolatae folium) p 198-199.