Family: Lamiaceae
false-pennyroyal, fluxweed
[Isanthus brachiatus "(L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.", more...]
Aaron_Carlson
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Trichostema: from trichos, "hair," and stema, "stamens," and alluding to the hair-like stamens
Plants: erect, annual, 8"-16" tall, aromatic forb, finely hairy; stems square with many branches
Leaves: opposite, short-stalked, elliptical to lance-shaped
Flowers: blue, 5-parted, 1/4" long, bell-like, almost regular, lower lip long and curved downward;
inflorescence 1 to 3 flowers from the leaf axils; blooms Aug.-Sept.
Fruits: 1-seeded nutlet
Habitat: dry; prairies, barrens
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, annual, 8"-16" tall, aromatic forb, finely hairy; stems square with many branches
Leaves: opposite, short-stalked, elliptical to lance-shaped
Flowers: blue, 5-parted, 1/4" long, bell-like, almost regular, lower lip long and curved downward;
inflorescence 1 to 3 flowers from the leaf axils; blooms Aug.-Sept.Fruits: 1-seeded nutlet
Habitat: dry; prairies, barrens
Conservation Status: Native
Our most unusual member of the family, its flowers not resembling those of typical mints. A calciphile found most often in dry prairies atop cliffs and bluffs or on steep slopes. Also on rhyolite and quartzite rock outcrops, in fields, and rarely along railroads. Usually in areas of disturbed open soil (such as around crumbling sandstone) or in the cracks of rocks where it occurs with other plants not tolerant of competition such as Opuntia fragilis, Polygonum tenue, and Phemeranthus rugospermus.
Mostly confined to the southernmost counties and very local. The records from Green Lake, Polk, and Waupaca Cos. were all collected on rock outcrops or cliffs. Specimens from Winnebago Co. were made in prairie remnants along railroads and on a limestone ridge. Old collections purportedly from Brown and Outagamie Cos. lack sufficient label data but may have been from railroad yards. Not collected much in recent years.
Mostly confined to the southernmost counties and very local. The records from Green Lake, Polk, and Waupaca Cos. were all collected on rock outcrops or cliffs. Specimens from Winnebago Co. were made in prairie remnants along railroads and on a limestone ridge. Old collections purportedly from Brown and Outagamie Cos. lack sufficient label data but may have been from railroad yards. Not collected much in recent years.
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 8 USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key.
Aaron_Carlson
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Corey Raimond
Corey Raimond
Sue R. Crispin
