[Taxacom] Melilotus albus and officinalis

[Adolf & Oluna Ceska]

Edward G. Voss in his Michigan Flora, Vol. II, p. 450 gives quite a few
characters on how to distinguish Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. from M.
albus Medik. None of those characters is very reliable, but if taken
together they suggest that it is not only the flower colour that would
distinguish those two species. 

Adolf Ceska, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
[mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Alec McClay
Sent: June-15-09 2:54 PM
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: [Taxacom] Melilotus albus and officinalis

Melilotus albus Medik. is listed as a synonym of Melilotus 
officinalis (L.) Lam. in the USDA Plants database, but most other 
listings that I can find (e.g. ILDIS and the Flora Europaea) maintain 
them as separate species. I can't find any publication that 
officially synonymized these species. Does anyone know why PLANTS 
would have synonymized them, or if there is any biological 
justification for doing so?

Alec McClay, Ph.D.

McClay Ecoscience
15 Greenbriar Crescent
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Canada T8H 1H8

Phone (780) 464-4962
Mobile (780) 953-4077
Fax       (780) 410-0496
Skype alec.mcclay
Email <mailto:alec.mcclay at shaw.ca>alec.mcclay at shaw.ca or 
<mailto:biocontrol at mcclay-ecoscience.com>biocontrol at mcclay-ecoscience.com

www.mcclay-ecoscience.com
Biological control, invasive species, insect-plant ecology  
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