It is a yellow-flowered herb native to northern Africa, Europe and Asia, but naturalized throughout the rest of the world.
It is an annual or biennial herb from 10 to 50 centimetres (3.9 to 19.7 inches) in height (rarely to one metre), with yellow flowers.
Similar to Melilotus altissima Thuill. in general. The flowers are 2 – 3 mm long they produces a hairless pod of similar length.
It has a wide native distribution, ranging from Macaronesia and northern Africa, through Europe, and into temperate and tropical Asia. It is naturalised throughout most of the rest of the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, South America, Australia and New Zealand.
This plant is useful.
How to get rid of:
In gravel areas both annual and perennial weeds can be controlled with the application of apost-emergent herbicide. Post-emergent meaning it controls weeds that have already sprouted and are growing.
Easy to control in the home garden by hand-pulling, cultivation, and the application of mulch. In large, landscaped areas herbicides may also be necessary.
