Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreb. Yellow Bugle

Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreb. - Yellow Bugle

Scientific Description:

Perennial, biennial or annual herbs, very variable. Stems prostrate or ascending, variously hairy or glabrous. Cauline leaves cuneate to cuneate-oblong, shortly 3-lobed to deeply 3(−5)-partite, hirsute, villous, lanate or subglabrous; floral leaves usually somewhat more deeply divided. Verticillasters 2-flowered. Calyx 4−6 mm, teeth 0.5−l(−2) × tube. Corolla yellow (sometimes drying pinkish), 8−30 mm, upper lip short and emarginate, middle lobe of lower lip bilobed. Stamens exserted beyond reduced upper lip. Nutlets 2.5−4 mm, transversely rugulose, often foveolate towards apex. Calcicole.

 

subsp. chia (Schreber) Arcangeli

Middle lobe of lower floral leaves linear, 6−many times longer than broad, as long as or longer than attenuate basal portion; stems spreading-hirsute, or shortly hairy only on 2 opposite sides; corolla 16−23 mm.

 

Flowering time: April−July.

Habitat: Stony slopes, steppe, vineyards, fallow fields, waste and gravelly ground, s.l−2000 m.

 

Reference:

Davis PH (1982). Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 47.

Public Description:

Ajuga chamaepitys, known as “yellow bugle”, spreads in Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa. It is a small herbaceous annual, biennial or perennial plant with yellow flowers, and grows up to 40 cm in height. It blooms between April and July and is found in stony slopes, steppe, vineyards, fallow fields, waste and gravelly ground. It looks like a tiny pine tree with a reddish purple four-angled hairy stem. Its leaves have a smell similar to pine needles. It has stimulant, diuretic and emmenagogue (a substance that stimulates or increases menstrual flow) properties. It is also used by herbalists in the treatment of gout and rheumatism.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajuga_chamaepitys/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.arkive.org/ground-pine/ajuga-chamaepitys, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Köse B Y (2012). Ajuga L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 547–548.