Is sweet clover actually a type of clover?

No, it is not a true clover (genus Trifolium). It belongs to the related genus Melilotus in the same legume family.

Can animals eat sweet clover?

Yes, as fresh forage or well-cured hay. However, when it spoils or molds, it produces dicoumarol, a toxic anticoagulant.

Why is it called 'sweet' clover?

Because of the sweet, hay-like fragrance of its leaves and flowers, especially when dried.

Is sweet clover used for anything besides fodder?

Yes, it is used as a green manure, a cover crop to prevent erosion, and historically in herbal medicine. It is also an excellent nectar source for honey bees.

sweet clover

UK/ˌswiːt ˈkləʊvə/US/ˌswit ˈkloʊvər/

Formal, Technical, Agricultural

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A plant of the genus Melilotus, with small fragrant yellow or white flowers, often grown as fodder or a cover crop.

Any of several leguminous plants (genus Melilotus) with fragrant foliage and flowers, valued in agriculture for improving soil and as forage, but which can become toxic if spoiled.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a botanical/agricultural term. While 'sweet' refers to its scent, it is a fixed compound noun referring to a specific plant group, not a description of a type of 'clover' (Trifolium).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning. The plant has the same scientific classification and agricultural use.

Connotations

Neutral agricultural/botanical term in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency in general discourse, but standard in agricultural or botanical contexts in both regions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

yellow sweet cloverwhite sweet cloversweet clover haysweet clover pasture

medium

field of sweet cloverplant sweet clovergrow sweet cloversweet clover bloom

weak

tall sweet cloverfragrant sweet clovercommon sweet cloversweet clover honey

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[grow/cultivate/plant] + sweet cloversweet clover + [is grown/blooms/wilts]sweet clover + [as a cover crop/as forage]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

Melilotus officinalis (for yellow)Melilotus alba (for white)

Neutral

melilothoney cloverKing's clover

Weak

sweet-scented cloverbokhara clover

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare, except in agricultural supply or farming reports.

Academic

Common in botany, agronomy, and ecology texts.

Everyday

Very rare; mostly used by gardeners, farmers, or naturalists.

Technical

Standard term in agriculture for a nitrogen-fixing legume, with notes on coumarin content and spoilage risks.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The field was full of yellow sweet clover.
Bees love the flowers of sweet clover.

Farmers often plant sweet clover to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
If sweet clover hay spoils, it can become dangerous for livestock.

The agronomist recommended a rotation incorporating sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) as a green manure.
Coumarin in fermented sweet clover can lead to haemorrhagic disease in cattle.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'The SWEET smell of this CLOVER-like plant helps the soil recover.'

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable for this technical botanical term.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не переводите дословно как 'сладкий клевер'. Стандартный термин — 'донник'.

Common Mistakes

Confusing it with common clover (Trifolium).
Using it as a descriptive phrase (e.g., 'a sweet clover') rather than a proper compound noun.
Misspelling as 'sweetclover' (should be two words or hyphenated).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

To improve soil fertility, many sustainable farms use as a cover crop.

Multiple Choice

What is a primary agricultural benefit of sweet clover?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is not a true clover (genus Trifolium). It belongs to the related genus Melilotus in the same legume family.
: Yes, as fresh forage or well-cured hay. However, when it spoils or molds, it produces dicoumarol, a toxic anticoagulant.
: Because of the sweet, hay-like fragrance of its leaves and flowers, especially when dried.
: Yes, it is used as a green manure, a cover crop to prevent erosion, and historically in herbal medicine. It is also an excellent nectar source for honey bees.