Marsh Skullcap
Scientific name: Scutellaria galericulata L.
Family: Lamiaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and Size: Perennial herbaceous plant with rhizomes, up to 50 cm tall.
Stem: Stems are more or less branched, pubescent, and quadrangular in cross-section.
Leaves: Leaves are lanceolate, slightly cordate at the base, sessile or shortly petiolate with slightly crenate margins.
Flowers: Hermaphroditic flowers arise from the leaf axils, 10-18 mm long, blue-violet in color. The pubescent corolla has a short helmet-shaped upper lip and a longer, flat lower lip with a single rounded lobe, often featuring a central white spot with numerous purple dots. The calyx is glabrous or with short hairs. Blooms from May to August.
Fruits and Seeds: The fruit consists of 4 wrinkled achenes.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Grows throughout Italy except for Sicily, Apulia, and Basilicata, from sea level up to 900 m. Found along the banks of watercourses, in wet meadows, and swampy woods.
USE
The plant has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, febrifuge, nervine, and tonic properties. Historically used to treat epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, and delirium tremens. Infusions were used to treat oral infections. Before using any plant-derived product (medicinal or non-medicinal) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult a physician.
Photo: licensed free of charge from Saxifraga and Peter Meininger, Jan van der Straaten, Rutger Barendse, Ed Stikvoort
