Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
jekeesl

Aromatic Species

These small plants were in a shale barrens complex, on a hillside seep that stays wet for much of the year. No specimens were found in adjacent, dryer areas so they seem to like wet feet.

The plants were in dense, green colonies 1-2 inches tall (center of 1st photo). There were also reddish plants 3-4 inches tall that apparently overwintered. Those more mature examples had some rerooting at nodes on lower sections. The new plants, and the older ones, did not show any evidence of flowers.

They had a strong, sweet, minty aroma when an underlying aromatic finish (a bit reminiscent of turpentine) when crushed. Stems were square, with a groove on one side. Leaves were opposite, petiolate, oblanceolate, with obtuse tips and attenuate bases. The larger leaves were 0.9 inch long by 0.35 inch across. The apical 1/3 portion had shallow, crenate margins. Leaves were resinous, with clear to slightly yellowish glands covering both surfaces. The top surface had a moderate covering of short trichomes, while the bottom surface was glabrous. Leaves had a strong central vein with one or two sets of non-opposed lateral veins.

Can you suggest the genera or family? I worked through our Lamiaceae options and did not find a match.

{{gwi:161259}}

{{gwi:161261}}

Comments (3)

Sponsored
King Construction Company LLC
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars8 Reviews
Loudoun County, VA Custom Builder for Equestrian Facilities