Lamiaceae

Ajuga L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 561 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Old World.

Descriptions

Lamiaceae (Labiatae), A.J. Paton, G. Bramley, O. Ryding, R.M. Polhill, Y.B. Harvey, M. Iwarsson, F. Willis, P.B. Phillipson, K. Balkwill, C.W. Lukhoba, D.F. Otieno, & R.M. Harley. Ajuga, C.W. Lukhoba. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Morphology General Habit
Perennial, annual and biennial herbs (rarely subshrubs)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of dense, verticillate cymes, sometimes reduced to solitary flowers or merging to form a terminal, spiciform thyrse
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx actinomorphic or weakly zygomorphic (posterior lobe reduced), not accrescent, 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla highly variable in colour, 2-lipped, marcescent, persisting as a sheath around fruit; posterior lip short, much shorter than anterior, 2-lobed, from which the sex organs emerge; anterior lip 3-lobed, median lobe very large, broadening distally and usually emarginate or bipartite
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, didynamous, usually slightly exserted; filaments fused to corolla for more than half their length, and covered with short hyaline hairs all over; anther thecae divergent to divaricate, confluent at dehiscence
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk poorly to well developed, usually asymmetrical
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary shallowly 4-lobed; style subterminal, ± equalling filaments, bifid with equal or unequal lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit usually a schizocarp of 4 nutlets (rarely drupaceous, 4-lobed); nutlets obovoid, reticulately foveolate, glabrous, with prominent lateral attachment-scar; endosperm present.
Distribution
Range: A genus of about 30 species, mostly tropical and subtropical in the Old World.
[FTEA]

Harley, R.M. et al. (2004). Labiatae, in The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants (K. Kubitzki, ed. in chief) VI: 167-275. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Morphology General Habit
Perennial, annual, and biennial herbs (rarely subshrubs)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of dense, verticillastrate cymes, sometimes reduced to solitary flowers or merging to form a terminal, spiciform or subcapitate thyrse
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx actinomorphic or weakly zygomorphic (posterior lobe reduced), not accrescent, 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla highly variable in colour, 2-lipped or 1-lipped and then with only anterior lip present, marcescent, persisting as a sheath around fruit, posterior lip short or obsolescent, usually 2-lobed or retuse, anterior lip 3-lobed, median lobe very large,
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, didynamous, usually slightly exserted, thecae divergent to divaricate, confluent at dehiscence
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen
Pollen suprareticulate, columellae simple or branched
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary shallowly 4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma lobes equal to unequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc poorly to well developed, usually asymmetrical
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit usually a schizocarp of 4 nutlets (rarely drupaceous, 4-lobed), nutlets oblate to obovoid, reticulately ridged to foveolate, usually glabrous, attachment-scar lateral, 0.55-0.85x as long as nutlet
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Endosperm
Endosperm present.
Note
2n = 32 in most species (16, 24, 28, 30, 62, 64, ca. 86).  Forty to 50 species, paleotemperate, mostly Eurasian.
Distribution
Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, Macaronesia, West-Central Tropical Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, East Tropical Africa, Southern Africa (doubtfully present in South Tropical Africa), Western Indian Ocean, Siberia, Russian Far East, Middle Asia, Ca
[LKGF]

Uses

Use
Ajuga reptans L. is used as an ornamental ground cover.
[LKGF]

Sources

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Lamiaceae Key Genus Fact Sheets

    • Nina Davies, Gemma Bramley and Don Kirkup, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0