Trichostema dichotomum

Forked bluecurls
Trichostema dichotomum inflorescence
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Trichostema
Species:	T. dichotomum
Binomial name
Trichostema dichotomum L.

Trichostema dichotomum, commonly known as forked bluecurls, is a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). ^[2] The plant is found in the Midwestern and Eastern United States, and Eastern Canada. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Description

Trichostema dichotomum is an annual herbaceous forb with opposite, simple leaves, and square, erect, hairy stems. The leaves are covered in small hairs.

The flowers are blue, borne in late summer through mid autumn, ^[9] and the stems bear glandular hairs that are fragrant when disturbed. ^[10] Each flower blooms only for half a day, opening in the morning and dropping its petals and stamens by the afternoon. ^[11]

Ecology

This plant germinates early in the summer and grows in sunny, moderately dry, sandy areas, including sandhills, open woodlands, glades, and disturbed areas. ^[12] It is an important nectar producer for bees, including Caupolicana electa and Dialictus placidensis . ^[13]

References

1. "Trichostema dichotomum". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
2. NRCS. "Trichostema dichtomum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 14 December 2015.
3. USDA: Trichostema dichotomum distribution map
4. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
5. Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map
6. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville
7. Gleason, H. A. & A.J. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (ed. 2) i–910. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx
8. Mcclelland, R. Kevan Schoonover; Weakley, Alan S.; Poindexter, Derick B. (2023-07-18). "Seven new species of Trichostema (Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae) from the North American Coastal Plain biodiversity hotspot". Phytotaxa. 603 (2): 95–149. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.603.2.1. ISSN   1179-3163.
9. Voss, E. G. 1996. Michigan Flora, Part III: Dicots (Pyrolaceae-Compositae). Cranbrook Inst. of Science, Ann Arbor.
10. "Trichostema dichotomum". Florida Native Plant Society.
11. "Know Your Natives- Forked Blue-curls". Arkansas Native Plant Society. 23 October 2015.
12. "Know Your Natives- Forked Blue-curls". Arkansas Native Plant Society. 23 October 2015.
13. "Trichostema dichotomum". Florida Native Plant Society.

External links

• USDA Plants Profile for Trichostema dichotomum (forked bluecurls)