Stachys palustris - Marsh Woundwort

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Lamiales - Family: Lamiaceae

This close relative of Betony and Hedge Woundwort, which are also members of the Mint family, spreads via its seeds, which in waterside locations get carried away by wind blowing them across the surface of the water or, on brooks and rivers, by the current. Vegetative reproduction is also very common, as clones are spread by means of slender underground runners that root at nodes and then produce new young plants.

Description

Marsh Woundwort is an erect perennial plant that can grow up to 80cm in height. As with other members of the Stachys genus, the solid stems of Marsh Woundwort have a square cross section, and they may be either unbranched or very occasionally branched.

The stems are noticeably hairy, particularly in the upper region of the plant, and there are nodes widely spaced along the stem.

There is no rosette of basal leaves, but from each node emerges a pair of opposite unstalked or very short stalked leaves; these are a elongated, pointed (lanceolate), and shallowly toothed, like the leaves of Stinging Nettle. (When it is not in flower, it is quite possible to mistake Marsh Woundwort for a nettle - and vice versa!)

Distribution

Marsh Woundwort is found throughout Britain and Ireland, where it is a very common sight in all but the driest parts. This wildflower occurs as a native wildflower throughout most of Europe and in Asia, and it is a naturalised introduction in many other parts of the world including North America.

Habitat

At its best in sunlit places beside ponds, lakes, river and streams, Marsh Woundwort is also seen in damp meadows and on some roadside verges.

Blooming Times

In Britain and Ireland the flowers of Marsh Woundwort first appear in late May but are not plentifuluntil late June, and in sheltered locations plants can continue blooming well in to September.

Uses

This wildflower has a long history of use in herbalism, and as its common name implies it was used for dressing cuts and other wounds, and it is reputed to cure aching joints when made into an ointment and to have antispasmodic and sedative properties when taken internally. The 17th century herbalist John Gerard extolled the virtues of woundworts, while English botanist and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, writing in the early 1600s, said that Betony (a Stachys species) '...preserves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical diseases...' which sounds credible until you read on '...and from witchcraft also.'

Unlike the rather similar Hedge Woundwort, which gives off a strong odour, Marsh Woundwort has only a slight smell; nevertheless bees and many other kinds of insects are attracted to the flowers, from which they obtain nectar.

Pollination is achieved when insects transfer pollen from one flower to another, and when both Marsh Woundwort and Hedge Woundwort grow in close proximity, as they often do in waterside locations where the Marsh Woundwort takes up the damper areas and Hedge Woundwort stands guard some way back from the water's edge, cross pollination can occur with hybrid woundworts often appearing as a result.

Similar Species

Hedge Woundwort is similar in stature and form but has darker purple flowers and stalked leaves; all except the basal leaves of Marsh Woundwort are unstalked.

Etymology

Stachys, the genus name, means 'spike of flowers', and plants in this genus do indeed produce flowers in spike form. The specific epithet palustris means 'of swamps', and for the most part Marsh Woundwort is a plant of wet or at least very damp places, including swamps, marshes and ditches.

The plants shown on this page were photographed in West Wales in June.