Melilotus
| Botanical Name | Melilotus officinalis |
| Family | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Other Names | Common melilot, corn melilot, king’s clover, melilot trefoil, meliotin, plaster clover, ribbed melilot, sweet lucerne, sweet melilot white melilot, wild laburnum, yellow melilot, yellow sweet clover |
| Habitat | Footpaths, fields, waste ground |
| Description | Bushy perennial/biennial herb up to 1m/3ft, smooth erect stems, pinnately, trifoliate, oval leaves, white or yellow 5-6cm long flowers June - September. Hairless brown seed pods |
| Native to | Europe, Asia |
| Cultivation | Sow seeds in September |
| Parts Used | Herb |
| Actions | Anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, emollient, expectorant, digestive, insecticidal, sedative |
| Extraction | Solvent extraction of dry flowers |
| Constituents | orthocoumaric acid, tannins, mucilage Coumarin derivatives: melilotoside (glucoside), melilotin, melilotic acid, melilotol, and hydroxy coumarins –scopoletin, umbelliferone Flavonoids: robinin, quercetin, clovine Phenolic acids and glycosides –melilotosides Triterpene saponins: melilotus saponins, azuki saponins, soya sapogenols, astragaloside VIII and wisteriasaponin D |
| Other Notes | The name is derived from “mel” meaning honey probably because bees like it |
| Skin | Varicose veins |
| Caution | Banned in some countries since 1953 Phototoxic |