LAMIACEAE

MINT FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specifed

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, glabrous to hairy, generally aromatic
Stems generally erect, generally 4-angled
Leaves generally simple to deeply lobed, opposite, generally gland-dotted
Inflorescence: cyme, generally clustered around stem, head-like, separated by evident internodes (terminal in Monardella ) or collectively crowded, spike-like to panicle-like (sometimes raceme or flowers 2–12); subtended by leaves or bracts; flowers sessile or pedicelled
Flower generally bisexual; calyx generally 5-lobed, radial to bilateral; corolla generally bilateral, 1–2-lipped, upper lip entire or 2-lobed, ± flat to hood-like, sometimes 0, lower lip generally 3-lobed; stamens generally 4, generally exserted, paired, pairs unequal, sometimes 2, staminodes 2 or 0; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed to base, chambers 2, ovules 2 per chamber, style 1, arising from center at junction of lobes, stigmas generally 2
Fruit: nutlets 4, generally ovoid to oblong, smooth
Genera in family: ± 200 genera, 5500 species: worldwide. Many cultivated for herbs, oils (Lavandula , lavender; Mentha , mint; Ocimum , basil; Rosmarinus , rosemary; Thymus , thyme), some cultivated as ornamental (in CA Cedronella , Leonotis , Phlomis )
Reference: [Cantino & Sanders 1986 Syst Bot 11:163–185]

SCUTELLARIA

SKULLCAP

Richard G. Olmstead

Perennial, generally hairy, sometimes glandular, from rhizomes or tubers
Stems erect, branched or not
Leaves basal and cauline; lower generally petioled; cauline becoming ± sessile upward
Inflorescence: flower generally 1 per leaf axil (or appearing as a bracted raceme)
Flower: calyx 2-lipped, lips ± equal, enclosing nutlets, back of upper lip dome-like or transversely ridged, generally with concave depression behind ridge; corolla 2-lipped, white to violet-blue, upper lip < lower lip, ± entire, hood-like, lower lip 3-lobed; stamens 4, pairs ± equal, enclosed by upper corolla lip, anthers ciliate, lower two 1-chambered; disk below ovary generally green-yellow
Fruit generally ovoid, generally minutely papillate, brown or black
Species in genus: ± 300 species: generally temp worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: tray, from calyx dome or ridge)
Reference: [Olmstead 1990 Contr Univ Michigan Herb 17:223–265]

Native

S. galericulata L.

MARSH SKULLCAP

Plant 20–80 cm; rhizomes slender
Stem glabrous or hairs << 0.5 mm, ± descending, sometimes gland-tipped
Leaves: basal generally 0; lower cauline petioles 1–5 mm; upper cauline blades lanceolate to narrowly oblong-ovate, entire to crenate, base truncate to ± lobed, tip ± acute
Flower: pedicel 2–4 mm; calyx 3.5–4.5 mm, upper lip back dome-like; corolla 15–20 mm, violet-blue to blue, lower lip white-mottled, inner surface papillate
Fruit ± spheric, brown
Ecology: Wet sites, meadows, streambanks, coniferous forest
Elevation: 1000–2100 m.
Bioregional distribution: n High Sierra Nevada (Tahoe Basin), Modoc Plateau (Fall River)
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, e US, circumboreal
Horticultural information: WET: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16 &SHD: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 20.