Gypsywort
Scientific Name: Lycopus europaeus L.
Family: Lamiaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Growth Habit and Size: Perennial herbaceous plant with creeping rhizomes rooting at the nodes, reaching heights of 20 to 100 cm.
Stems: Erect, quadrangular, and bristly stems.
Leaves: The lower leaves generally have a deeply lobed or divided blade at the base, toothed or crenate elsewhere; opposite, about 3-5 times longer than wide, glabrous or sparsely hairy.
Flowers: The flowers are hermaphroditic in multiflowered verticils, in the axils of the leaves, calyx with spinulose teeth longer than the tube, corolla white or pink-purple with purple spots, with four lobes. Blooms from May to September.
Fruits and Seeds: The fruit is a microbasarium, a schizocarp with 4 hairy, glandular, and sticky nutlets.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Found throughout Italy at the edges of ditches, in reed beds, in wet areas, from sea level to 1100 m.
USES
It has astringent, tonic, and febrifuge properties, is a sedative of proven efficacy, and a mild narcotic. It acts similarly to Digitalis in reducing the pulse rate but lacks the dangers associated with the use of that drug. The herb is indicated in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and cardiac manifestations of hyperthyroidism. Before taking any plant-based product (medicinal or non-medicinal) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult your doctor first. A black dye is obtained from the plant.
Photo: Licensed for free use by Saxifraga and Ed Stikvoort, Rutger Barendse.
