Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C. Barton var. scabrifolius Fernald
Lycopus sinuatus Elliott
Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C. Barton
American water-horehound
American water-horehound is a North American native.
Plants: 1–3′ (30–91 cm) tall, unbranched or sparingly branched, sometimes sprawling. The main stem is four-angled and ridged, and hairless or nearly so.
Leaves: Lower leaves are deeply lobed, and up to 3½ ⨉ 1½″ (8.9 ⨉ 3.8 cm). Leaves are narrowly oval, narrowly oblong, or linear. They are opposite, becoming smaller near the top, and coarsely toothed. Upper leaf surfaces are typically hairless.
Flowers: In small clusters at leaf axils. Individual flowers are ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size, and white, with tiny purplish spots. They are tubular in shape, emerging in all directions from leaf axils.
Fruits: Nutlets are in groups of four, together forming a square shape. Each is 1/32–1/16″ (1.2–1.7 mm) long.
Habitats: Lake and river shores, and wetland edges.
Members of Lycopus, the water-horehounds, are notoriously hard to distinguish. They are also easily confused with some members of other genera.
 |
Similar species. |
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 342
Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C. Barton var. longii Benner
Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C. Barton var. scabrifolius Fernald
Lycopus sinuatus Elliott
Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W.P.C. Barton var. scabrifolius Fernald
Lycopus sinuatus Elliott
9/2/2017 · Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (12 × 14 cm) 
8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) 
8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 7″ (19 × 18 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
9/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (15 × 20 cm) 
9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 14 cm) 
9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 5″ (10 × 12 cm) 
9/2/2017 · Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4½ × 5″ (12 × 12 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Lamiales | Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae | Mint family |
| Genus | Lycopus | From the Greek lykos, “wolf,” and pous, “foot” |
| Species | americanus | American |
Lycopus americanus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.