Lamiaceae: Glechoma hederacea

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Family Name

Lamiaceae

Common Name

Ground ivy, Creeping Charlie

Description

Glechoma hederacea is a perennial, creeping herbaceous plant that spreads by stolons, forming dense mats on the ground. Stems are square in cross-section, typically reaching 10–50 cm in length, hairy, and spreading laterally or creeping along the soil surface, often rooting at nodes. Leaves are opposite, rounded to kidney-shaped with scalloped edges, 2–4 cm across, and aromatic when crushed. Flowering occurs from spring to early summer (April–June). The flowers are small, tubular, and bilaterally symmetrical, borne singly or in small clusters from leaf axils. They are typically light purple to bluish with darker purple markings on the lower lip. Each flower has five sepals and five petals. The sepals form a tubular calyx about 0.5–1 cm long, with five pointed lobes that are lanceolate in shape. The petals are fused into a two-lipped corolla about 1–1.5 cm long: the upper lip is hooded and two-lobed, while the lower lip spreads out and is three-lobed with a slightly notched center lobe. Flowers are bisexual with four stamens and a single, superior ovary formed from two fused carpels, which develops into a four-lobed schizocarp fruit that splits into four one-seeded nutlets that mature in late summer. Ground ivy is introduced and widespread in South Dakota, found in lawns, gardens, roadsides, and shaded disturbed areas.

Additional Notes

Ground ivy is traditionally used in European folk medicine for respiratory ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues. It has mild antiseptic properties. It is considered a weed in lawns and gardens because of its aggressive spreading habit.