Monarda didyma Linnaeus. Scarlet Beebalm, Oswego Tea. Phen: Jul-Sep; Sep-Oct. Hab: Seepage slopes, periglacial boulderfields with abundant seepage, streambanks, boggy places, usually in strong to moderately filtered sunlight. Dist: ME west to MI, south to PA and OH, and in the Appalachians south to sw. NC, se. TN, and ne. GA (part of the northern range is likely only by introduction).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: McClintock & Epling (1942) describe two forms of M. didyma: the "broad-leaved form", with leaves averaging 9.2 cm long and 5.2 cm wide and corollas averaging 35 mm long, ranging south to sc. PA and ne. WV, and the "narrow-leaved form", with leaves averaging 11.8 cm long and 4.4 cm wide and corollas averaging 39 mm long, occurring throughout the range of the species. Further study seems warranted.

Synonymy: = C, F, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, McClintock & Epling (1942), Scora (1967); < Monarda didyma L. – RAB

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 5