Stachys palustris

Marsh Hedge-nettle

Flower Cluster
Moose Mountain Provincial Park
09-Aug-2003

The square stem has been cut and the upper portion removed.  The view is from the top of the stem, looking down toward the bottom.  The flower cluster is technically a verticillaster, composed of a pair of oppositely place cymes.  This picture shows one of the cymes.  Note the 5-toothed calyx.

 
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Stachys: Answers to key questions from Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus.
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native species (FOA)

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leaves broader than linear to linear-lanceolate (BF)

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leaves oblong to ovate; NOT deltoid or deltoid-ovate (BF)

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leaves obtuse to rounded at base; NOT cordate to subcordate at base (BF)

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leaves crenate to dentate (BF)

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bracteal leaves reduced (FOA)

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bracts grading into the stem leaves; NOT much shorter than, and NOT differing from, the stem leaves (BF)

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inflorescence terminal, not axillary (BF)

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flowers in an interrupted spike; NOT crowded in axils of well-developed leaves (FOA)

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inflorescence a more or less elongated raceme; NOT a more or less globose head (BF)

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inflorescence a raceme of oppositely placed clusters of flowers; NOT a raceme of oppositely placed single flowers (BF)

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calyx regular; NOT oblique (BF)

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calyx without a projection on upper side (FOA)

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calyx indistinctly or not at all 2-lipped, though one lobe may be larger than the others; calyx NOT distinctly 2-lipped with upper lip 3-toothed and lower one 2-lobed (BF)

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upper lip of calyx equal to at least the adjacent ones; NOT much wider than the other 4 (BF)

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calyx usually 5-toothed (FOA)

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calyx-teeth not spinescent (FOA)

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calyx 5-10 nerved; NOT 13 or 15-nerved; NOT obscurely nerved (FOA)

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flowers purplish; NOT white (BF)

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corolla 2-lipped; NOT nearly regular and 4-lobed (FOA)

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upper lip of corolla distinctly visible; NOT inconspicuous, NOT reduced to two small lobes (BF)

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anther-bearing stamens 4 (FOA)

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upper pair of stamens shorter than the lower pair (FOA)

 
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Labiatae: Answers to key questions from Budd's Flora leading to this family.
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herbs

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plants green or with some chlorophyll

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plants NOT aquatic

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stems square

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leaves NOT bearing bladders

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leaves opposite

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flowers NOT in heads or spikes

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flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell

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corolla irregular

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ovary superior

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fruit with 4 nutlets