Motherwort

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived perennial

Native distribution

Not Native to the Finger Lakes Region, Europe and Mediterranean Region

Biocultural value

Glycocides in the leaves help lower blood pressure and relieve anxiety. Alkaloids stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth.

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden, Robison Herb Garden, Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fischer Old-growth Forest, McLean Bogs, South Hill Swamp

Source of plant

Richters, University Rhode Island Drug Plant Garden & Laboratory

Description

Perennial to 5' in height; glabrous to villous, lower leaves deeply and palmately 2- to 5-lobed, to 3" long,lobes deeply dentate; bracts half as long as calyx, calyx tube prominently 5-veined, teeth almost as longas tube, lower 2 teeth deflexed, corolla longer than calyx, white or pale pink, sometimes with purple spots, tube with ring of hairs inside, upper lip densely villous on back; summer blooming.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3

Special characteristics

medicinal/pharmaceutical

Status

L4|SNR|GNR