Prunella L.

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 herbs, rhizomatous, not aromatic

Morphology Leaves

Leaves entire, serrate, laciniate to pinnatifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of usually 6-flowered verticillasters, in a terminal, condensed, spiciform thyrse, pedunculate or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts imbricate, broadly ovate-acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles present or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2-lipped, tubular-campanulate, accrescent, 10-nerved, sometimes with 2 lateral keels, 5-lobed (3/2), posterior lip ± truncate, lobes short, mucronate, anterior lip with lobes triangular, upcurved, throat not barbate, ± closed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 2-lipped, 4-lobed (1/3), purple, blue, cream or white, posterior lip hooded, concave, ± rounded, anterior lip with median lobe concave, usually dentate, lateral lobes obliquely truncate, tube ± infundibular, annulate within, contracted at throat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, didynamous, exserted from tube, ascending under posterior lip, filaments curved, bifurcating at apex to form a subulate appendage, thecae 2, divaricate, distinct, ± parallel to filament

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma-lobes shortly subulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc unlobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets ovoid, apiculate or rounded, ± angulate, mucilaginous.

Note

2n = 28, 30, 32.  About seven species

Distribution

In Europe, Northwestern Africa and Asia.  Prunella vulgaris L. widely naturalized in temperate and montane regions of Northern and Southern America, Africa and Australasia.