Mint / Dead-Nettle Family [Lamiaceae] |
status
flower
flower
morph
petals
stem
smell
pungent
28th April 2010, Aston on Clun, Shropshire. | Photo: © RWD |
Can be a low sprawling plant, with leaves hidden by other plants. |
28th April 2010, Aston on Clun, Shropshire. | Photo: © RWD |
Or can stand up a short way. Has similar leaves to those of Red Dead-Nettle, but which do not tend to go reddish, but rather reddish-brown. |
16th April 2009, Great Mitton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The leaves are green at first, only turning reddish-brown in response to strong sunlight. |
19th April 2014, Copster Green, nr Wilpshire, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Ground-Ivy does seem to like growing on moss, here atop a dry-stone wall, although it will get irradiated more by the Sun in this spot. |
7th June 2005, Sefton Coast Path, Hightown, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves kidney-shaped, with very rounded teeth and criss-crossed in curving veins. Flowers in small one-sided whorls. Whole plant covered in short hairs. |
16th April 2009, Great Mitton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers blue to violet, with purple striations in the deep throat. Young leaves not fully opened. |
15th May 2008, Warton Crag, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers a perhaps Orchidshaped with a lower lip slightly split into two skirts, Two winged arms, and a hood. Throat has long hairs. |
15th May 2008, Warton Crag, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Embossed white mark in the shape of a lower-case 'x' on inside of upper hood. |
28th April 2010, Aston on Clun, Shropshire. | Photo: © RWD |
Stem square and hairy. Leaves in opposite pairs on longish stems. Flowers emerge from green to reddish sepal tubes. |
23rd April 2011, Southport Dunes, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
23rd April 2011, Southport Dunes, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Sepal tubes are hairy and have curved teeth ending in a prickle. Flower has purple marks on conical part. |
23rd April 2011, Southport Dunes, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves kidney-shaped, hairy both sides, with well-rounded teeth and criss-crossed in curving veins. |
No relation to : Ground-Elder, Ground Pine, Groundsel, Ivy, Boston Ivy,
Some similarities to plants belonging to the same Dead-nettle Family: Bugle (but Bugle grows taller, with many more tiers of flowers and Ground-Ivy has flowers that are more purplish-blue), Pyramidal Bugle, Skullcap and
Slight resemblance to other plants belonging to the same Dead-nettle Family: Superficial resemblance to : Selfheal. It has a similar height to Red Dead-Nettle and its leaves are similarly toothed and rounded, but Red Dead-nettle has pink flowers and reddish leaves, whereas Ground-Ivy has blue flowers and leaves which may turn reddish-brown rather than red. Despite its name, it is not a type of Ivy, it just spreads, a bit like Ivy does, with long rooting runners. Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : Ground-Ivy was once used as the principle bittering agent in the making of beer, which is why it came to be known as 'Ale hoof'. It is still widely used as a tonic in herbal teas.
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Glechoma | hederacea | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Lamiaceae |
Glechoma (Ground-Ivy) |
Mint / Dead-Nettle Family [Lamiaceae] |