365 Urban Species. #118: Ground Ivy

[urbpan]

Photos by cottonmanifesto
Urban species #118: Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea

Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) can be identified by their square stems. This is our clue that ground ivy isn't an ivy at all. Like most of the weeds found in the cities of New England, ground ivy is a plant native to Europe, used in the past for food and/or medicine. Ground ivy can be made into tea, used for various medicinal reasons, and was used to flavor beer before hops edged it out.

Comments

[agelena.livejournal.com]

We have a similar plant here, called (I think) "henbit."

[droserary.livejournal.com]

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) has a much larger range than Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea).

[droserary.livejournal.com]

I was wondering when you'd get around to the Mint Family. I'm sure in the near future we'll see Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)? It must be all over the place by now. Saw it out here the other day, but it's not nearly as abundant as I had known it to be on the East Coast.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen it around yet, but as I stumble (around the place) I will post.

[zipotle.livejournal.com]

I love familiar stuff.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Me too! (obviously, I guess :) )

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

So, have you had chance to whip up that handy 365 species checklist yet?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

A checklist that was as broad as my approach is would be pretty unweildy. There could be environmental checklists (one for inside the house, one for the waterfront, etc.) or taxonomic (one for birds, one for mammals, etc.) but I don't think you could realistically cover everything with one list, and have it be usable.