Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Northern Bugleweed
Lycopus uniflorus
[C-value
7]
Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Blooms mid-August -
September
The native Northern Bugleweed of the mint family is uncommon in our area. It prefers partial sun, wet to moist conditions, and soil containing some sand and organic material. Habitats include openings in floodplain woodlands, swamps, soggy thickets and meadows, and low areas along pools of water. This perennial is 1-2½' tall and unbranched with an erect 4-angled central stem. Pairs of opposite leaves 1½-4" long and ½-1½" across occur along the stem. They are lance-shaped with 5-7 teeth on each side. Dense clusters of flowers occur at the middle to upper leaf axils, whorled around the central stem. Each tiny flower has a light green calyx with 4-5 teeth and a white (slightly blueish) short-tubular corolla, about 3/16" across, with 4-5 lobes.
Northern Bugleweed at Harris Forest Preserve on 8/19/18 (in low area along pond)
Northern Bugleweed at Harris Forest Preserve on 8/19/18 (in low area along pond)
Northern Bugleweed has a square stem as do most members of the Mint Family, but does not have the distinctive mint smell.
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