Scutellaria elliptica Muhlenberg var. elliptica. Common name: Hairy Skullcap. Phenology: Late May-Jun; Jun-Jul. Habitat: Mesic to dry forests. Distribution: NY, KY, and IN, south to s. GA, ne. and Panhandle FL, MS, LA, and e. TX.
ID notes: Scutellaria elliptica can be confused with S. ovata; S. ovata has all leaves cordate, while S. elliptica only the lowermost are cordate.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: See discussion in Poindexter & Weakley (2018a).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA, G, Mo3, NY, Pa, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV, Collins (1976), Weakley et al (2018a); = Scutellaria ovalifolia Pers. ssp. mollis Epling — Epling (1942); = Scutellaria ovalifolia Pers. ssp. ovalifolia; < Scutellaria elliptica Muhl. — Fl6, Il, RAB, Tat, Tx, WH3; < Scutellaria elliptica Muhl. var. elliptica — K4; < Scutellaria ovalifolia Pers. — S. Basionym: Scutellaria elliptica Muhl. 1793
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of mesic to dry forests, woodlands and barrens.
Stems: Stems 4-angled, 1-3 per plant, simple or branched above, finely downy above.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, short petiolate, oval or diamond-shaped, to 3 in. long, toothed at least in the widest portion to tip.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in an open raceme topping the stem or in upper leaf axils, bluish-purple (rarely white), to 3/4 in. long, tubular, the corolla with upper lip hood-like, 3-lobed and arched above a spreading and convex lower lip; as in all Scutellaria species, the calyx tube is 2-lobed, with a distinctive cap-like projection on the upper lobe.
Fruits:
Comments: A non-aromatic member of the mint family. The less common var. hirsuta, known mainly from the mountains of GA, NC, VA, WV, is more densely hairy-glandular.??
Height: 6-30 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of mesic to dry forests, woodlands and barrens.
stems: Stems 4-angled, 1-3 per plant, simple or branched above, finely downy above.
leaves: Leaves opposite, short petiolate, oval or diamond-shaped, to 3 in. long, toothed at least in the widest portion to tip.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in an open raceme topping the stem or in upper leaf axils, bluish-purple (rarely white), to 3/4 in. long, tubular, the corolla with upper lip hood-like, 3-lobed and arched above a spreading and convex lower lip; as in all Scutellaria species, the calyx tube is 2-lobed, with a distinctive cap-like projection on the upper lobe.
fruits:
comments: A non-aromatic member of the mint family. The less common var. hirsuta, known mainly from the mountains of GA, NC, VA, WV, is more densely hairy-glandular.??
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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