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Lamiaceae Taxonomy Browser
Glechoma hederacea L.
EOL Text
Stems 10-17 cm, ascending, base purplish, subglabrous, nodes retrorse strigose. Petiole of basal leaves 3.5-4 cm, 0.8-1.8 cm in upper leaves, with sparse, retrorse, minutely hooked hairs; upper blade larger than basal one, reniform to reniform-orbicular, 0.8-1.3 × ca. 2 cm, glabrous except sometimes sparsely retrorse strigose on abaxial veins, margin ± coarsely crenate, apex rounded. Cymes 2-4-flowered, in verticillasters; bracts and bracteoles subulate, ca. 1 mm. Calyx tubular, slightly curved at apex, 5-7 mm, hirtellous; teeth ovate, ca. 1 mm, apex acute, ciliate. Corolla purple, ca. 1 cm, hirtellous; tube ca. 7.5 mm, straight, funnelform; upper lip straight, ca. 3 mm, 2-lobed, lobes oblong; lower lip obliquely spreading, ca. 4 mm, middle lobe flabellate, apex emarginate; lateral lobes ovate. Nutlets unknown. Fl. May.
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| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019682 |
More info on this topic.
More info for the term: hemicryptophyte
Raunkiaer [88] life form:
Hemicryptophyte
The preference is partial sun, moist conditions, and fertile loamy soil in an open situation where there is little ground cover. This species can spread aggressively and is difficult to destroy without resorting to herbicides. During hot summer weather, it has a tendency to become dormant.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/ground_ivy.htm |
Nepeta glechoma Bentham.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019682 |
More info for the term: forb
Forb
More info for the term: cover
In its native range, many invertebrates utilize ground-ivy for forage; a comprehensive list of species is given by Hutchings and Price [51]. In Great Britain, bank voles utilize ground-ivy as a food source [121]. A study in Germany determined that ground-ivy was commonly used as a nesting material for European Starlings [37]. European wild boars eat the leaves of ground-ivy (Janda 1954, as cited in [9]), and in the United States, it is considered a potential food source for introduced boars in the Smokey Mountains [9].
Palatability/nutritional value: It appears that ground-ivy is palatable for the few animals identified above, but nothing has been reported on its importance as forage.
Ground-ivy is thought to be toxic to livestock [22,25,40,51], especially horses [17,76], and to some species of rodents [51].
Cover value: No information is available on this topic.
Ground Ivy is occasional to locally common in most areas of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include openings of floodplain forests, semi-shaded areas along rivers, powerline clearances in woodland areas, cemeteries, lawns and gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas. This plant can withstand regular mowing, but flourishes better without it. It prefers disturbed areas, but occasionally invades higher quality natural areas. Sometimes homeowners tolerate its presence in lawns because they like the flowers. Faunal Associations
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/ground_ivy.htm |
Also known as gill-over-the-ground and creeping Charlie, it was introduced into North America as an ornamental or medicinal plant, as early as the 1800s.
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| Rights holder/Author | U.S. National Park Service |
| Source | http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/glhe.htm |