Monarda clinopodia, commonly known as white bergamot, basil bee balm or white bee balm, is a perennial wildflower in the mint family, Lamiaceae. This species is native to North America, ranging north from New York, west to Missouri, and south to Georgia and Alabama.[1] M. clinopodia has also been introduced into Vermont and Massachusetts.[2]

White bergamot
Monarda clinopodia iflower. This is a native plant growing wild in Scotts Run Nature Preserve, Fairfax county Virginia, USA.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Monarda
Species:
M. clinopodia
Binomial name
Monarda clinopodia

Description

edit

Monarda clinopodia is a perennial herb, growing 1 to 2 m (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in) in height. Leaves are simple and opposite. Leaf margins have teeth. Leafy bracts white or white-tinged. Corolla is white or pink, dark-spotted, 1.5 – 3 cm long.[3] Flowers are bilateral with four petals, sepals, or tepals in each flower fusing into a cup or tube.[2]

It grows in moist woods, thickets, ravines, and stream-banks. Flowers late June to early September.[3] The plant attracts bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.[4]

Biology & Ecology

edit

M. clinopodia typically grows in moist woods, thickets, ravines, and stream-banks and may also appear along roadsides.[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Plants Profile for Monarda clinopodia (white bergamot)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  2. ^ a b "Monarda clinopodia (basil bee-balm): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  3. ^ a b Fernald, M.L. Gray's Manual of Botany. p. 1237.
  4. ^ "Monarda clinopodia (Basil Beebalm, Basil Bergamot, White Bergamot) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  5. ^ Magee, Dennis W. (2007). Flora of the Northeast : a manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York. Harry E. Ahles (2nd ed.). Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 978-1-55849-577-7. OCLC 192042365.
  6. ^ Gleason; Cronquist, Henry A.; Arthur (1991). Manual of Vascular Plants of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (2nd ed.). New York Botanical garden. p. 455. ISBN 0-89327-365-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)