Scutellaria racemosa Pers.

South American Skullcap

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

South American Skullcap is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to Central and South America. It was first collected in the United States from Mobile County in 1965 and has since spread throughout the southeast. In Alabama it can be found primarily in the southern half of the state. South American Skullcap occurs in flower beds and lawns, along lake and stream margins, on golf courses, in roadside ditches, and along railroads. It is a perennial forming large colonies from slender rhizomes. The stems are erect to ascending, 6-12 inches in height, square in cross section, frequently branched, glabrous, and green or purplish in color. Leaves are opposite, short-petioled, triangular to ovate or lanceolate in outline, entire except for one lobe on one or both sides at the base, glabrous or minutely pubescent along the veins and the margin. Flower are produced singly in the axils of the upper bract-like leaves. The flowers are pubescent exteriorly, two lipped, and lavender in color with spots of purple on the lower lip. The fruit is a nutlet. South American Skullcap is an invasive species often associated with the nursery trade. It can be difficult to eradicate once established.—A. Diamond

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Not Native OBL (NWPL)

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