Woundwort (Stachys palustris)
- Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
- Flowering: June-September.
- Field Marks: This species of Stachys is distinguished by its hairy leaves and stems.
- Habitat: Wet meadows, wet prairies, swamps, sloughs, edges of lakes.
- Habit: Perennial herb with slender rhizomes and white tubers.
- Stems: Erect, branched or unbranched, hairy, up to 3 feet tall.
- Leaves: Opposite, simple, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, toothed, hairy, up to 4 inches long.
- Flowers: Usually 6 in a whorl, with several whorls along the upper end of the stem, rose-purple.
- Sepals: 5, slightly unequal in size, united below, up to 1/2 inch long, densely hairy.
- Petals: 5, united into 2 lips, rose-purple, up to 3/4 inch long, hairy on the outside.
- Stamens: 4.
- Pistils: Ovary superior, 4-parted.
- Fruits: Dark brown, shiny, about 1/10 inch long.
- Notes: The nutlets are eaten by wildlife.
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