Taxonomic importance of seed, embryo and seedling characters in the cotyledonary leaf and first prophyll leaf stage was studied in 15 species of Melilotus (Fabaceae). Morphological features related to shape of cotyledons and first prophyll leaf provided additional taxonomic characters at juvenile stage to distinguish M. officinalis from closely related M. albus and M. suaveolens and M. speciosus from closely related M. infestus and M. sulcatus. Variations in the embryo and seedling characters were used to prepare a key for the investigated species. With the exception of M. elegans, phenetic analysis was consistent with morphotaxonomic classification as annuals and biennials but failed to support the classification at sectional level. The phenogram was congruent with phylogenetic groupings of these taxa. Results of the present investigation show that embryo and seedling characters are taxonomically significant in Melilotus though not sufficient to support interspecies relationships