Flower ID: IMG_8629.JPG-08-17-2023 Flower name (scientific): Lycopus americanus Muhlenberg ex W. P. C. Barton PY: 1815. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) LIE-ko-pus (or LY-co-pus) ah-mer-ih-KAY-nus Flower name (common): American Water Horehound Family name (common): Mint Family name (scientific): Lamiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek words lykos meaning a wolf and pous meaning a foot, hence a wolf's foot. Referring to the supposed resemblance of the leaves of one of the species to a wolf's foot. Specific epithet: Of or related to America. Common name origin: From its geographic location in the US, and its occurrence in wet habitats. Horehound comes from old English with different spellings employed, a compound word meaning hairy and the second part refers to a plant of uncertain origin (OED). Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 4 lobed Color: white with purple spots Other: flower arrangement, Whorl Plant description: Size: 6 to 36 inches (15 to 91 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous to slightly pubescent. Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple. Leaves are sessile or have very short petioles. Leaves are coarsely toothed, particularly the lower leavess. Size: Leaves up to 9 to 15 cm long and up to 2 to 4 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: Upper surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or elliptic-lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, meadows, streambanks, pond margins, marsh edges, moist to wet, semi shade to sun. Fruit: A group of 4 nutlets in the shape of a square. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): There are five recorded species of Lycopus in Wisconsin: Lycopus americanus, Lycopus asper (Rough Bugleweed), Lycopus europaeus (European Bugleweed), Lycopus uniflorus (Northern Bugleweed) and Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed, Virginia Water-horehound). L. europaeus has a very limited distribution in Wisconsin, with only a very small number of observations reported. Plants of the genus Lycopus do not have a minty fragrance when the leaves are crushed, which can help in differentiating some of the mint species that have a resemblance. Key distinguishing characteristics are the following. L. americanus has deeply lobed lower leaves, which is an important observation to ID this species. L. asper has unlobed, essentially stalkless, toothed lance-oblong leaves, and calyxes about the same length as the flower tube. L. uniflorus has elliptic shaped toothed leaves with a short stalk, calyxes that are short (about 1 mm), and stems that are glabrous or minimally hairy. L. virginicus has diamond-shaped leaves that are toothless near the stem, and calyxes that are shorter than the flower tube, and the stems are slightly pubescent. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki used this plant in combination with other plants as a treatment for stomach cramps (Smith, p. 225, 1928). Latitude: 44.799473 Longitude: -91.513340 Altitude: 236.10 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, 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, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 3 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): na Autonym:Lycopus americanus subsp. americanus (The other infraspecific is Lycopus americanus subsp. laurentianus (Rolland-Germain) Coursol & Bailleul which is native to Quebec and not recorded in the US.) Wetland Status (NC): OBL Wetland Status (MW): OBL