Stachys byzantinaK.Koch Wolly Hedge-nettle

Stachys byzantinaK.Koch - Wolly Hedge-nettle

Scientific Description:

Perennial with sterile basal rosettes. Flowering stems c. 1 m, usually simple, rarely sparsely branched, densely lanate-villous to floccose-tomentose, rarely sparsely arachnoid-tomentose. Basal leaves oblong-spathulate to broadly lanceolate, 3−8 × 0.5−3.5 cm, densely sericeous-tomentose to arachnoid, subcrenulate to entire, apex ± obtuse, always narrowed at base, attenuate or rarely rounded, with 2−6 cm petiole. Floral leaves sessile, lanceolate, 1−5 × 0.3−1 cm, upper ones as long as verticillasters. Verticillasters 15−20-flowered, usually remote below, ± approximate above, rarely all remote. Bracteoles ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1.5−7 mm, tip not spinescent. Pedicels 0.5−1.2 mm. Calyx sub-bilabiate, subcampanulate, 8−10 mm; teeth ovate-triangular, 1/4−1/3 × tube, tip very shortly mucronate, mucro 0.2−0.5 mm, ± erect to slightly recurved in fruit, eglandular, sometimes with few glandular hairs. Corolla rose-pink, 12−14 mm, tube ± included. Nutlets obovoid, 2.5 × 2 mm.

 

Flowering time: June−September.

Habitat: Rocky slopes, juniper (Juniperus L.) scrub, field margins, 30−2000 m.

 

Reference:

Bhattacharjee R (1982). Stachys byzantina C.Koch, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 220.

Public Description:

Stachys byzantina, known as “woolly hedge-nettle”, is native to Türkiye, Armenia, and Iran. It is a perennial plant with rose-pink flowers, and grows up to 1 meter in length. It blooms between June and September and is found in rocky slopes, juniper scrub and field margins. It has antimicrobial activity against some bacteria.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachys_byzantina/, Accessed date: 17.02.2016.

Akçiçek E (2012). Stachys 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. 588–598.