Melilotus altissimus
| Melilotus altissimus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Melilotus altissimus (common name: tall melilot)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring to mid-summer in situ[1]. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water will speed up the germination process, particularly in dry weather[K]. Germination will usually take place within 2 weeks.
Cultivation: Dislikes shade.
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[2].
Range: Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Waste places and woods, avoiding acid soils[3].
Edibility: Leaves and seedpods - cooked as a 'bean soup'[4].
Young shoots - cooked[4][5][6]. Also used as a flavouring[7]. Only eat the fresh plant, it becomes toxic if it is dried[8].
Usage: The dried plant is used as a moth repellent[9].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Dried leaves can be toxic though the fresh leaves are quite safe[10]. (This is possibly due to the presence of coumarin, the substance that gives some dried plants the smell of new mown hay. If taken internally it can prevent the blood from clotting.)
Also Known As: M. macrorrhiza. Pers. M. officinalis. non (L.)Pall.
Links
References
- ↑ Woodward, L and P Burge. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre, 1982.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers, 1977.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas. A Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982.
- ↑ de Bray, Lys. The Wild Garden.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.