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Motherwort is a naturalized exotic from Eurasia with stems up to 5' tall (more commonly 3-4'); branches occur near apex, if they are present at all. The flowers are sessile; they occur in whorls just above a pair of opposite leaves in the upper half of the plant, almost completely covering the stem. Individual flowers are about 3/8" long, two-lipped and VERY hairy on the outer surfaces with profuse long, white hairs; the upper lip is reflected backwards and unlobed, while the lower lip is divided into three lobes. The lips are white or light pink with purple spots on the lower lip and purple mottling on the upper lip. Four stamens with purple anthers protrude about half way up the upper lip; there s a single style with a two-lobed stigma that is located between the two longest stamens. The stubby, tubular calyx has five very sharp lobes/spines lending a touch of danger to the flowers; after fertilization, the calyx holds four nutlets, each containing a single seed. Motherwort was introduced from Europe (where it was previously introduced from Asia) primarily as a medicinal herb; it is now considered invasive. Motherwort could possibly be confused with field mint (Mentha arvensis) but field mint lacks the distinctive three- or five-lobed angular-cleft leaves of motherwort and has boldly-protruding stamens that are lacking in motherwort.

Leonurus

Leonurus cardiaca

motherwort [Blooms: Jun-Aug]