BALLOTA NIGRA

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE

Common Names:- Black horehound

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ballota foetida, Ballota sordida, Marrubium nigrum,

Stachys ballota.

Meaning:- Ballota (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides.

Nigra (L) Black.

General description:- Perennial.

Stems:-

1) Up to 80 cm, much-branched, sericeous-tomentulose, without sessile glands.

Leaves:-

1) Lower cauline, 3-8 x 2-6 cm, cordate to cuneate at the base, ovate or ovate-

oblong.

2) Petiole short.

Flowers:-

1) Bracteoles, 3-9 mm, subulate or filiform, membranous.

2) Verticillasters, many-flowered.

3) Calyx, 9-11 mm;

a) limb, dentate.

b) lobes, 1-2 mm, recurved, ovate or triangular-ovate, with a mucro 0·2-0·8 mm.

4) Corolla, 12-14 mm, lilac.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, oblong, rounded at the apex.

Key features:-

1) Plant, pubescent to subglabrous, rarely sericeous-tomentulose, without sessile

glands.

2) Stems, up to 80 cm, much branched.

3) Calyx, 9-11 mm, the lobes with mucro 0·2-0·8 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides woodland margins and somewhat damp, ruderal habitats. 0-900 m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean. Somewhat

limited distribution on Crete.

Flowering time:- May-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton