Melittis melissophyllum
Encyclopedia
Melittis melissophyllum, common name: the Bastard Balm, is a herbaceous
perennial plant
belonging to the genus Melittis of the Lamiaceae
family. The name melittis of the genus derives from a Greek words Melissa or Melitta, meaning "honey bee" and refers to the properties of flowers of attracting these insects. The name melissophyllum of the species simply means "with leaves similar to melissa".
. This species is quite variable in shape of leaves and colors. The leaves reach 5–9 cm (2–3.5 ) of length. They are oval, bluntly-toothed, quite hairy. They have a short petiole
and are in opposite pairs up the stems. The inflorescence
is composed of large pedunculated hermaphrodite
flowers (two to six, or more) growing in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are labiate, arranged in pairs and are one-sided (all flowers "look" at the same side). They are usually white or pale pink with a large pinkish purple blotch on the lower lip. They are mainly pollinated by bees and moths. The flowering period extends from May through August.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
belonging to the genus Melittis of the Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
family. The name melittis of the genus derives from a Greek words Melissa or Melitta, meaning "honey bee" and refers to the properties of flowers of attracting these insects. The name melissophyllum of the species simply means "with leaves similar to melissa".
Description
Melittis melissophyllum reaches on average 30–50 cm (11.8–19.7 ) of height, with a minimum of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) and a maximum of 60 centimetres (23.6 in). It is a strongly aromatic plant with erect hairy stems. The root of this plant is a perennial short rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
. This species is quite variable in shape of leaves and colors. The leaves reach 5–9 cm (2–3.5 ) of length. They are oval, bluntly-toothed, quite hairy. They have a short petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
and are in opposite pairs up the stems. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is composed of large pedunculated hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
flowers (two to six, or more) growing in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are labiate, arranged in pairs and are one-sided (all flowers "look" at the same side). They are usually white or pale pink with a large pinkish purple blotch on the lower lip. They are mainly pollinated by bees and moths. The flowering period extends from May through August.
Gallery
Cultivars
"Bastard balm" is ideal for a sunny woodland edge or scrubby border, where it will be attractive to bees and other insects. It prefers moist, well-drained soils. There is a deep red garden cultivar called "Royal Velvet Distinction".Distribution
It is found in central and southern Europe from southern England and West Wales as far east as Turkey.Habitat
These plants prefer shady environment with mountain deciduous woods (oak, beech and chestnut), but also areas with , pines, hedges, shrubs and junipers. They usually occur on wood-edges and hedgebanks at an altitude of 0–1400 m (0–4,593.2 ) above sea level.Subspecies
- Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. albida (Guss.) P.W. Ball (1971)
- Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. carpatica (Klokov) P.W.Ball (1971)
- Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. sarmatica Gladkova
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. albida (Guss.) Nyman (1881)
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. carpatica Soo & Borsos
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. grandiflora (Sm.) Nyman (1881)
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. melissophyllum
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. kerneriana (Klokov) Soò et Borsos
- Melittis melissophyllum L. var. sarmatica Soo & Borsos