Species from the genus Melilotus Mill. belong to the plant genetic resources, which have value as forage, medicinal, and melliferous crops, and can be used for soil improvement, as a source of coumarins in the perfume industry, etc. The paper presents a taxonomic review of the genus Melilotus for the territory of Russia and neighboring countries, including synonymy and taxonomy, morphological, brief ecological and geographical characteristics of the species. By analyzing the morphological, ecological features and geography of distribution, the genus was taxonomically revised. In the considered territory, the genus numbers 13 species and two subgenera. A typical subgenus included three sections, two subsections, and three rows. A new subsection (Polonica) is described; new combinations in the Altissimae section, and two in the Dentatae and Wolgicae sections are proposed. The research was based on collections of the VIR herbarium (WIR), the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS (LE), St. Petersburg State University (LECB), Moscow State University (MW), the N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of RAS (MHA), etc., as well as on literary sources on the taxonomy of the genus Melilotus.

Black medic is widely spread across all continents in temperate and subtropical zones. The species is moderately demanding to the growing conditions. It has been subdivided into three groups of monocarpic, biennial polycarpic, and perennial polycarpic plants. Those in the first group of monocarpics can be annual, biennial and perennial. They are able of completing the life cycle in one season if conditions are favorable. After the removal of generative shoots, the life cycle of plants is extended until the next season or more, until fruiting is completed. Monocarpics do not form a basal rosette of leaves when immature. They are characterized by the indeterminate growth of generative shoots. The second group includes biennial polycarpics, and the third group consists of perennial polycarpics. All of them (biennial and perennial ones) form a basal rosette of leaves in the immature period. They form generative shoots with a determinant type of growth with a complex inflorescence that consists of two or more inflorescences at the top. Wide distribution of black medick is due to the morphological diversity and plasticity of the life cycle.

Transl. of: «International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Ed. 9. Scripta Horticulturae. 2016;18:I-XVII+1-190». Chukhina, S.R. Miftakhova, V.I. Dorofeуev (transl.).