Flower ID: IMG_8476.JPG-08-06-2021 Flower name (scientific): Stachys tenuifolia Willdenow PY: 1800. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) STAH-kees (or STAK-is or STA-kiss) ten-yoo-ih-FOH-lee-us (or ten-u-i-FOL-i-us or ten-u-i-FO-li-us) Flower name (common): Smooth Hedge Nettle Family name (common): Mint Family name (scientific): Lamiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Latin name used by Pliny, taken from the Greek name στάχυς (stáchys) used by Dioscorides, for the spike like inflorescene, with an alusion to the spike of an ear of corn. Specific epithet: Latin meaning with slender leaves. Common name origin: Smooth for the lack of hairs on the plant, and hedge nettle for plants of the genius Stachys. Flower description: Size: 0.4 to 0.7 inches (1.0 to 1.8 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: pink with purple markings Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Size: 14 to 48 inches (36 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate or narrowly ovate (IL), lanceolate to oblong to ovate (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): June to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, woodland margins, forests, thickets, stream banks, pond margins, swamps, marshes, sun or semi-shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): This can be a difficult species to positively ID. Teucrium canadense (Germander) has a resemblance, but can be distinguished by the upper flower lip being divided into two parts, whereas the Stachys species have the upper flower lips undivided. Key features to look for to ID Stachys tenuifolia are the stem is mostly hairless or if hairy, has hairs only along the corners of the stem and not on the side faces of the stem. Also, the leaves have stems ranging from around 0.25 to 1 inches (6 to 25 mm) in length. Stachys palustris (Marsh Hedge Nettle) has leaf stems less than about 0.13 inches (3 mm) in length, and Stachys hispida (Hairy Hedge Nettle) has leaf stems less than about 0.3 inches (8 mm) in length. Stachys hispida and Stachys palustris also have hairs on all 4 sides of the stems. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the leaves of this plant to prepare a tea that was used as a medicine to treat a bad cold (Smith, p. 227, 1928). Latitude: 44.798247 Longitude: -91.525013 Altitude: 245.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, 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: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, NB, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACW Wetland Status (MW): OBL