Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin

MARSH SKULLCAP

(Scutellaria galericulata L.)

MINT FAMILY (Labiatae or Lamiaceae)

IND. STATUS: OBL

FIELD CHARACTERISTICS: A rhizome-producing, perennial herb, 20-80 cm. high. Square stems are weak but erect, with opposite, simple leaves. The leaves have stalks and are from 2-4 times longer than wide. The leaves lack aroma and have a bitter after-taste. Flowers are solitary and occur in the leaf axils. The calyx is 2- lipped with a distinct, shield-like crest or projection on the upper side. Petals are arching and 1.5-2 cm. long. Flowers are blue, marked with white, and in bloom from June through September.

ECOLOGICAL NOTES: Marsh skullcap is a common wetland species occurring primarily on the peat/muck soils of sedge meadows, shrub-carrs, and bogs, as well as marshes that have essentially stable water levels. A synonym is S. epilobiifolia A. Hamilton.

SOURCE: Fassett (1976); Gleason and Cronquist (1991); and Swink and Wilhelm (1994).

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