Sweet clover

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

General information
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Melilot (Melilotus officinalis), also known as sweet clover, is widespread in Eurasia. It is also neophytic in Africa, North, Central and South America and Australia.
In the field, sweet clover is used as a pasture plant, especially as bee pasture and for green manure. Cut sweet clover is used to make hay or silage. The coumarin released when the plants dry gives rise to the typical aromatic smell of hay.
Poorly stored hay contains dicumarol, a degradation product of coumarin; dicumarol causes blood clotting disorders in livestock.

Melilotus officinalis is the parent plant of Meliloti herba, the above-ground plant parts of sweet clover and sweet melilot collected at flowering time.