Glechoma hederacea L. Gill-over-the-ground

Glechoma hederacea L. - Gill-over-the-ground

Scientific Description:

Straggling herb, with creeping non-flowering shoots and ascending flowering stems; gynodioecious. Stems 10−20(−50) cm, subglabrous to puberulent, long-ciliate at thickened nodes. Leaves with 2−35 mm petiole; lamina 4−25 × 6−30 mm, crenate, cordate to truncate. Bracteoles setaceous, 1−1.5 mm. Calyx 4−6.5(−7) mm, shortly patent-hispid; teeth triangular or narrowly triangular, 1/5−1/3(−1/2) × tube. Corolla mauve, bluish-lilac or purple, 8−14(−25) mm, pubescent outside, lower lip with pale spots. Nutlets c. 2 mm.

 

Flowering time: March−June.

Habitat: Wet ravines, damp pasture, among shrubs, 20−1665 m.

 

Reference:

Mill RR (1982). Glechoma hederacea L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 288.

Public Description:

Glechoma hederacea, commonly known as “gill-over-the-ground”, is native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It is an aromatic, perennial, evergreen plant with mauve, bluish-lilac or purple flowers and grows up to 50 cm in length. It blooms between March and June and is found in wet ravines, damp pasture, among shrubs. It has been used to treat inflammation of the eye in traditional European medicine. In the traditional Austrian medicine, the herb has been used for the treatment of disorders associated with the liver and bile, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, kidneys and urinary tract, fever, and flu.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2018). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glechoma_hederacea, Accessed date: 06.02.2018.

Anonymous 2 (2018). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=Glechoma+hederacea,Accessed date: 06.02.2018.

Dirmerci T (2012). Glechoma, 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. 555.