Monarda didyma

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Monarda didyma
Indianernessel - Goldmelisse.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Monarda
Species:
M. didyma
Binomial name
Monarda didyma
L.
Monarda didyma in the USA.svg
U.S. distribution of Monarda didyma

Monarda didyma, the crimson beebalm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet monarda, Eau-de-Cologne plant, Oswego tea, or bergamot, is an aromatic herb in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern North America from Maine west to Ontario and Michigan, and south to northern Georgia, and introduced in other states farther west. [1] [2] [3] Its odor is considered similar to that of the bergamot orange, which is used to flavor Earl Grey tea. The genus name comes from Nicolas Monardes, the first European to describe the American flora in 1569. [4]

Contents

Description

M. didyma is a perennial plant that grows to 0.6–1.2 metres (2–4 feet) in height and spreads 0.4–0.6 m (1+12–2 ft). The medium to deep green leaves are 7–15 centimetres (3–6 inches) long, shaped ovate to ovate-lanceolate, with serrate margins, placed opposite on square, hollow stems. The leaves are minty fragrant when crushed. [5]

It has ragged, bright red tubular flowers 3–4 cm (1–1+12 in) long, borne on showy heads of about 30 together, with reddish bracts. It grows in dense clusters along stream banks, moist thickets, and ditches, blooming for about 8 weeks from early/mid to late summer. [5]

Ecology

This plants attracts hummingbirds and is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, raspberry pyrausta, and orange mint moth. [6]

Uses

Crimson beebalm is extensively grown as an ornamental plant, both within and outside its native range; it is naturalized further west in the United States and also in parts of Europe and Asia. It grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shade and thrives in any moist, but well-drained soil. Several cultivars have been selected for different flower color, ranging from white through pink to dark red and purple. [7]

Beebalm has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by many Native Americans, including the Blackfoot. The Blackfoot people recognized this plant's strong antiseptic action, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds. [8] An herbal tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis.[ citation needed ] Beebalm is a natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas.[ citation needed ] The Winnebago used an herbal tea made from beebalm as a general stimulant.[ citation needed ] It was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence. [9] [10] The Native Americans of Oswego, New York, made the leaves into a tea, giving the plant one of its common names. [11]

Related Research Articles

Bergamot may refer to:

<i>Mentha aquatica</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i> Species of fruit and plant

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant species of the genus Arctostaphylos widely distributed across circumboreal regions of the subarctic Northern Hemisphere. Kinnikinnick is a common name in Canada and the United States. Growing up to 30 centimetres in height, the leaves are evergreen. The flowers are white to pink and the fruit is a red berry.

<i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> Species of flowering plant

Gaultheria procumbens, also called the eastern teaberry, the checkerberry, the boxberry, or the American wintergreen, is a species of Gaultheria native to northeastern North America from Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Alabama. It is a member of the Ericaceae.

<i>Monarda</i> Genus of flowering plants

Monarda is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The genus is endemic to North America. Common names include bergamot, bee balm, horsemint, and oswego tea, the first being inspired by the fragrance of the leaves, which is reminiscent of bergamot orange. The genus was named for the Spanish botanist Nicolás Monardes, who wrote a book in 1574 describing plants of the New World.

<i>Collinsonia canadensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Collinsonia canadensis, commonly called richweed or stoneroot, is a species of perennial herb in the mint family.

<i>Monarda citriodora</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda citriodora is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include lemon beebalm, lemon mint and purple horsemint. When crushed, the leaves emit an odor reminiscent of lemons. This odor is sometimes described as more resembling oregano, especially late in the season. Its purple flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

<i>Cephalanthus occidentalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include buttonbush, common buttonbush, button-willow, buck brush, and honey-bells.

<i>Clinopodium grandiflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Clinopodium grandiflorum, the large-flowered calamint, showy calamint or mint savory, is a species of ornamental plant.

<i>Cunila origanoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Cunila origanoides, with the common names stone mint, frost mint, dittany, and American dittany, is a perennial late-summer-flowering subshrub with small purple flowers that is native to the central and eastern United States. It belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is the only species in the Cunila genus native to the United States. It grows in habitats such as dry forests and the thin soil around rock outcrops. This species has historically been cultivated for use as a medicinal herb, tea, and ornamental plant.

<i>Thermopsis montana</i> Species of legume

Thermopsis montana, the false lupin, mountain goldenbanner, golden pea, mountain thermopsis, or revonpapu, is a plant species which is native to the western United States. The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.

<i>Polygonatum biflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Polygonatum biflorum is an herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern and central North America. The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon. It is often confused with Solomon's plume, which has upright flowers.

<i>Rosa virginiana</i> Species of shrub

Rosa virginiana, commonly known as the Virginia rose, common wild rose or prairie rose, is a woody perennial in the rose family native to eastern North America, where it is the most common wild rose. It is deciduous, forming a suckering shrub up to 2 metres in height, though often less. The stems are covered in numerous hooked prickles. The leaves are pinnate, usually with between 7 and 9 glossy leaflets. The pink flowers are borne singly or in small clusters and appear over a long period in midsummer. The fruits are small, round and bright red, rich in vitamin C and edible, being both used to make jams and tea. It grows in clearings, thickets, and shores. The plant attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

<i>Monarda fistulosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.

<i>Rhus glabra</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac, is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.

<i>Agastache foeniculum</i> Species of flowering plant

Agastache foeniculum, commonly called anise hyssop, blue giant hyssop, Fragrant giant hyssop, or the lavender giant hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family, (Lamiaceae). This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America. It is tolerant of deer and drought, and is visited by many pollinators.

<i>Monarda clinopodioides</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda clinopodioides, common name basil beebalm, is a plant species native to Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas.

<i>Teucrium canadense</i> Species of herb

Teucrium canadense, commonly known as Canada germander, American germander, or wood sage, is a perennial herb in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to North America where it is found across the contiguous states of the United States and in much of Canada.

<i>Monarda bradburiana</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda bradburiana, the eastern beebalm or Bradbury's beebalm, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to much of the southeastern United States.

<i>Monarda clinopodia</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda clinopodia, commonly known as white bergamot, basil bee balm or white bee balm, is a perennial wildflower in the mint family, Lamiaceae. This species is native to North America, ranging north from New York, west to Missouri, and south to Georgia and Alabama. M. clinopodia has also been introduced into Vermont and Massachusetts.

References

  1. "Monarda didyma". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. "Monarda didyma". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2013.
  3. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Monarda didyma". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team.
  4. "Monarda didyma". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Monarda didyma". Plant Finder . Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
  7. Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild Flowers Worth Knowing . Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
  8. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region. "Restoring wildlife habitat and traditional plants with the Oneida Nation".
  9. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN   0-87842-359-1
  10. Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
  11. Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 575. ISBN   0-394-50432-1. The Audubon Society.