101 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



Yellow Melilot (Mettlotus officmalis). 



Occasionally on roadside wastes, railway banks and similar 

 refuges for the vagabonds of plant-life, especially if it be in the 

 Eastern counties, the rambler conies across a slender plant with 

 loosely trifoliate leaves on long stalks, and long narrow racemes 

 of pale yellow flowers. These flowers, considered individually, 

 are seen to be shaped like several we have already considered 

 (see page 43), with a certain amount of variation, of course. 

 This is the Common Yellow Melilot, a plant that is not truly 

 indigenous, but one that has been cultivated in this country for 

 a great number of years, and of which some escapes from the 

 meadows have settled like gipsy squatters on the unenclosed 

 wastes. But the field-path rambler is sure to come across it 

 in the meadows, so it is as well that he should know it. It will 

 be at once noted that the flowers are all drooping from the 

 flower-stem, and that when the petals drop off they reveal a 

 similarly drooping olive-coloured pod, which is small, egg- 

 shaped and rough, with transverse ribs. In the process of 

 drying Melilot develops an odour similar to that of the Sweet 

 Vernal-grass that gives the pleasant scent to new-mown hay. 

 Flowers June to August. 



There are two truly indigenous species : 



I. Tall Melilot (M. altissima), with deep yellow flowers. Pod compressed, 

 covered with net-like markings, hairy, black when ripe. Fields. June to August. 



II. White Melilot (M. alba). More slender than the last, with smaller -white 

 flowers. Pod stouter, smooth, black. Waste places. July and August. 



The name of the genus is compounded of mel, honey, and Zotus, the name of 

 another genus = the lotus with the sweet or honeyed smell. 



