Flower ID: IMG_0771.JPG-06-18-2017 Flower name (scientific): Leonurus cardiaca Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) le-on-U-rus (or lee-ON-or-us or le-o-NI-rus or lee-oh-nur-uss) kar-DI-a-ka (or kar-DI-ak-a) Flower name (common): Motherwort Family name (common): Mint Family name (scientific): Lamiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Derived from the Greek leon for lion, and oura for tail (tailed), hence, the plant supposedly resembles a lion's tail. Specific epithet: From the Greek kardia, for heart. Common name origin: Formed by compounding mother + wort (plant). A name applied to different plants with medicinal value for uterine disorders and as a aid for childbirth. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.5 inches (5 to 13 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: purple or pink Other: flower arrangement, Whorl Plant description: Erect, stem 4-angled. Size: 18 to 60 inches (46 to 152 cm) tall. Stem hairy: sparsely hairy, frequently on the angles. Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple and lobed. Petioles are up to 13 cm in length. The lower leaves have large teeth, the upper leaves have a few widely spaced teeth. Size: Lower leaves up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide. Upper stem leaves typically up to 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: sparsely to moderately hairy on both surfaces. Other: Shape: leaf, upper leaves often oblong-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Forests, fields, woodlands, thickets, riverbanks, marshes, disturbed sites, roadsides, sun, wet or dry. Fruit: Nutlets are brown to reddish brown, about 1.5 to 2.5 mm in length. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes in Wisconsin. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the plant as a stimulant. The Delaware, Shinnecock, and the Mohegan employed the plant for female diseases. The Iroquois utilized the plant as an aid to digestion (Moerman, p. 301, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 23 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed