Prunella vulgaris L.
selfheal
Perennial herb. Rhizome short; aerial stems long and decumbent, becoming erect and then often purplish. Petiole often = lamina in lower lvs, becoming short in lvs below infl. Lamina 1.7-6 × 0.7-2.3 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, hairy, especially on veins below, usually entire or shallowly toothed, or rarely upper lvs with narrow lobes (hybrids); base cuneate to rounded. Bracts 2-10 cm long, broad-ovate to broad-reniform, acuminate, the uppermost often acute, with prominent white cilia and often purple-tinged. Calyx 7-9 mm long, purplish; upper lip shallowly 3-toothed and mucronate; lower lobe of 2 lanceolate, acuminate teeth. Corolla 10-15 mm long, usually violet, rarely pink or white. Stamen appendages ± straight. Nutlets 1.5-2 mm long, ellipsoid or ellipsoid-obovoid, shining brown.
N.; S.; St.; C.: common throughout.
N. temperate 1867
Usually wet or rather damp pastures and lawns, forest margins and clearings, dry banks and riverbeds, particularly when modified and open, less common in other habitats.
FL Nov-Apr-(Oct).
A few specimens with some pinnately lobed lvs are probably referable to P. × hybrida Knaf (P. laciniata × P. vulgaris), e.g., the doubtful forms from Feilding mentioned by Allan (1940).
