Melilotus indicus
Sourclover, Sourclover
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Melilotus indicus (Sourclover) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by smallest size and spreading habit diagnostic.
Sourclover is a naturalized annual herb found throughout California, particularly in southern regions, in open and disturbed areas at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces small yellow flowers in slender, compact clusters about 1 to 2 centimeters long. Growing with spreading or erect stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall, it has a nearly smooth appearance. Its leaves feature oblanceolate to wedge-shaped leaflets 1 to 2.5 centimeters long with sharply toothed edges, typically light green in color. The small fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long with a bumpy or faintly lined surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; smallest size and spreading habit diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare, Imperial, Fresno, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Butte, Lake, San Mateo, Glenn, Monterey, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Napa, Colusa, San Francisco, Siskiyou, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Tuolumne, Merced, Yolo, Sutter, Amador, Marin, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, Alameda, San Benito, Tehama, Lassen, Mendocino, Calaveras, Shasta, Stanislaus, Modoc, Madera, Mariposa
Outside California: to southern Oregon, southeastern United States, native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Melilotus indicus blooms Apr-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Medicago: Melilotus fruits are egg-shaped with ridges; Medicago fruits are spirally coiled.; vs Trifolium: Melilotus flowers fall off after blooming; Trifolium flowers persist and enclose fruits.; vs Oxalis: Melilotus has pea-shaped flowers in spikes; wood-sorrels (Oxalis) have 5-petaled flowers in umbels.; vs Acmispon: Melilotus has toothed leaflets and ridged oval fruits; Acmispon has smooth leaflets and elongate pods.; vs Baccharis: Melilotus has compound leaves and pea flowers; Baccharis has simple leaves and brush-like composite flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melilotus indicus native to California?
No. Melilotus indicus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Melilotus indicus bloom?
Melilotus indicus blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Melilotus indicus grow?
Melilotus indicus occurs in Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Melilotus indicus belong to?
Melilotus indicus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Melilotus.
What habitat does Melilotus indicus grow in?
Melilotus indicus grows in Open, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.