Motherwort

(Leonurus cardiaca)

 

Color drawing: C. A. M. Lindman (1901-1905), Bilder ur Nordens Flora.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers pink to lilac. Upper petal lobe elongate, strongly concave with the stamens clustered on its underside. Lower 3 petals lobes small, spotted with purple. Flowers arranged in whorls in the leaf axils up and down the stem. Stem square, smooth. Leaves wedge-shaped, with a sharp apical tooth and two large, lateral teeth. Basal leaves larger and broader. Plant 2 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Motherwort is found in a variety of disturbed habitats including roadsides, fields, and empty lots.

Flowering period: June to August.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Similar Species:

The open, almost gaping, flowers and the distinctive leaf shape should easily identify Motherwort.

Similar Species

No Similar Species