Flower ID: IMG_2978.JPG-08-23-2019 Flower name (scientific): Scutellaria lateriflora Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) skoot-ul-AIR-ee-uh (or sku-tel-LAR-e-a) la-ter-ee-FLOR-ah Flower name (common): Mad-dog Skullcap Family name (common): Mint Family name (scientific): Lamiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Latin scutella meaning a small dish or plate, referring to the form of the fruiting calyx. Specific epithet: From the Latin latus for side and flora for flowers, that is, flowers on the side. Common name origin: From the supposed resemblance of the shape of the calyx with a skullcap. The plant was formerly used to treat rabies, hence the name Mad-dog. A previously employed common name for this plant was mad-dog weed. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (0.5 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: purple or blue Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 12 to 28 inches (30 to 71 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 8 to 11 cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, cordate-ovate to broadly lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Forests, meadows, woods, thickets, streambanks, marshes, swamps, sun or semi-shade, wet to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Scutellaria galericulata (Marsh Skullcap) has a slight resemblance, its flowers have a lower lip with blue dots and a tubular shape about 12 to 19 mm in length, whereas the flowers of Scutellaria lateriflora have no blue dots on the lip and are less than half the size, the tubluar shape being about 6 to 8 mm in length. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the plant for monthly period, for diarrhea, breast pains, and kidney issues. The Iroquois used the plant as a preventive medicine for smallpox (Moerman, p. 524, 1998). Latitude: 44.800070 Longitude: -91.507548 Altitude: 245.00 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, Menominee, 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: (AK, 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, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) In Canada: (BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na