Lycopus virginicus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Lamiales

Familia: Lamiaceae
Subfamilia: Nepetoideae
Tribus: Mentheae
Subtribus: Lycopinae
Genus: Lycopus
Species: Lycopus virginicus
Name

Lycopus virginicus L., 1953
Synonyms

Heterotypic
Lycopus virginicus var. quercifolius Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 16 (1814).
Lycopus macrophyllus Benth., Labiat. Gen. Spec.: 185 (1833).
Lycopus virginicus var. pauciflorus Benth., Labiat. Gen. Spec.: 185 (1833).
Euhemus officinalis Raf., Autik. Bot.: 115 (1840).
Euhemus sylvaticus Raf., Autik. Bot.: 116 (1840).
Lycopus virginicus var. macrophyllus (Benth.) A.Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 285 (1870).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Eastern USA
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 21. Reference page.

Additional references

Govaerts, R.H.A. 2003. World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [unavailable for the public] Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2022. Lycopus virginicus in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2022 Apr 13. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2022. Lycopus virginicus. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2022. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2022 Apr 13. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2022. Lycopus virginicus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 13 Apr 2022.
International Plant Names Index. 2022. Lycopus virginicus. Published online. Accessed: Apr 13 2022.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Lycopus virginicus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Virginia water horehound
русский: Зюзник виргинский

Lycopus virginicus is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by many common names, including Virginia water horehound,[2] American water hoarhound, sweet bugleweed, water bugle, carpenter's herb, green archangel, purple archangel, wolf foot,[3] and Egyptian's herb.[4] It is native to North America, where it is widespread in eastern Canada and the eastern United States.[1]

This is a perennial herb with a hairy, squared stem reaching a meter tall. The oppositely arranged leaves have oval to lance-shaped blades with toothed edges.[4][5] The leaves are dark green or purple.[3] Clusters of tiny white or pink-tinged flowers occur in the leaf axils.[4][5] The plant has a mint scent and a bitter taste.[3] This species can be easily confused with Lycopus uniflorus. The latter has stamens exserted from the flowers, while the stamens of L. virginicus are included. The two species may hybridize, producing Lycopus × sherardii.[5]

Habitat types include damp, shady places.[3][4] It can be found in riparian zones, such as floodplains. It grows in wet spots in forests, woodlands, and swamps.[5]

This plant has had uses in traditional herbal medicine. It was perhaps best known as a treatment for hyperthyroidism conditions, including Graves' disease and thyrotoxicosis. Indications included signs and symptoms such as dyspnea, tachycardia, tremor, and exophthalmia. Medical research has not validated the use of the herb for these conditions. It was also used for anxiety, insomnia, and respiratory ailments such as pneumonia, bronchitis, hemoptysis, and chronic cough.[4] In Native American tradition, the Iroquois considered the plant poisonous, but the Cherokee found it useful for treating snakebite in people and in dogs. It was given to infants to help them learn to speak, and it had ceremonial uses.[6]
References

Lycopus virginicus. NatureServe. 2012.
Lycopus virginicus. USDA PLANTS Profile.
Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus L.) The Center for New Crops & Plant Products. Purdue University.
Grant, N. Lycopus virginicus. Southern Cross Plant Science. Southern Cross University.
Penskar, M. R. 2010. Lycopus virginicus. Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
Lycopus virginicus. Native American Ethnobotany Database. University of Michigan, Dearborn.