Hedge-nettle (Stachys palustris, Sp. Pl.: 580 (1753))

Family: Lamiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 580 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Stachys

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Mongolia and W. Himalaya

Description

Hedge-nettle, scientifically known as Stachys palustris, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Originally documented by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum” in 1753, this plant has been a subject of botanical interest for centuries due to its distinctive characteristics and wide distribution.

Widely found spanning from Europe all the way to Mongolia and extending to the western Himalayas, Hedge-nettle thrives in diverse climatic conditions and habitats. Typically favoring wetlands, marshy areas, and damp meadowlands, it is well-adapted to moist soil environments.

The plant is adorned with lance-shaped leaves that often exhibit a soft, hairy texture. The foliage of Hedge-nettle is not only aesthetically appealing with its rich green hue but also plays a critical role in photosynthesis, supporting the plant’s growth and reproductive processes.

One of the striking features of Stachys palustris is its floral arrangement. The plant produces clusters of small, tubular flowers that are usually pink or purple in color. These flowers, blooming from the axils of the opposite leaf pairs, add a splash of color to the plant’s greenery and serve as an important nectar source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Hedge-nettle has a square stem, a characteristic trait within the mint family (Lamiaceae), which enhances its structural stability. This quadrangular stem supports the plant’s upright growth and distinctively sets it apart from other non-lamiaceous plants.

The ecological significance of Hedge-nettle cannot be understated. Not only does it contribute to the biodiversity of its native regions, but it also plays a pivotal role in sustaining insect populations by providing essential nectar and pollen. Its proliferation in marshlands helps in soil stabilization and water filtration, mitigating the effects of soil erosion and maintaining wetland health.

In conclusion, Stachys palustris, or Hedge-nettle, is a fascinating and ecologically valuable plant. Its widespread presence from Europe to Mongolia and the western Himalayas underlines its adaptability and importance in various ecosystems. The botanical documentation by Linnaeus remains a foundational reference for understanding this plant, highlighting its enduring relevance in botanical studies and environmental stewardship.

Common Names

Eng: hedge-nettle, marsh betony, marsh hedgenettle, marsh woundwort, woundwort, marsh hedge-nettle
Dan: kær-galtetand
Deu: sumpf-ziest
Fra: epiaire des marais, épiaire des marais, crapaudine
Nor: galtetand, holnuttur, svine-rod
Swe: knölsyska, peltopähkämö
Nld: moerasandoorn
Fin: peltopähkämö
Nob: åkersvinerot
Nno: åkersvinerot
Cym: briwlys y gors, briwlys y taeog, briwlys yr afon, llys yr archoll
En: Hedge-nettle, Marsh betony, Marsh woundwort, Woundwort, Marsh hedgenettle, Marsh hedge-nettle, Clown’s Woundwort
Hy: Աբեղախոտ ճահճային
Be: Чысцік балотны
Bg: Блатен ранилист
Zh: 沼生水苏
Hr: Močvarni čistac
Cs: Čistec bahenní
Da: Kær-Galtetand
Nl: Moerasandoorn
Et: Soo-nõianõges
Fi: Peltopähkämö
Fr: Epiaire des marais, Épiaire des marais, Crapaudine, Ortie bourbière, Stachys des marais
De: Sumpf-Ziest, Stachys sylvestris, Sumpfziest
Hu: Mocsári tisztesfű
Ga: Cabhsadán
It: Stregonia palostre, Stregona palustre
Kk: Тоққұдыс
Lt: Pelkinė notra
Nv: Tólchiintsoh
No: Åkersvinerot, Galtetand, Holnuttur, Svine-rod
Nb: Åkersvinerot
Nn: Åkersvinerot
Fa: سنبله‌ای باتلاقی
Pl: Czyściec błotny
Ru: Чистец болотный
Sk: Čistec močiarny
Es: Betónica palustre, Hortiga muerta de hojas estrechas, Ortiga hedionda, Espiga palustre
Sv: Knölsyska, Peltopähkämö
Uk: Чистець болотяний
Cy: Briwlys y gors, Briwlys y Taeog, Briwlys yr Afon, Llys yr Archoll

Synonyms

• Stachys palustris var. segetalis (Klett & Richt.)
• Stachys segetum (Hagen)
• Stachys maeotica (Postrig.)
• Stachys palustris var. cinerea (T.Durand)
• Stachys wolgensis (Wilensky)
• Stachys palustris f. cleoniquei (B.Boivin)
• Stachys palustris var. hybrida (Benth.)
• Stachys palustris var. nipigonensis (Jenn.)
• Stachys palustris var. macrocalyx (Jenn.)
• Stachys palustris var. angustifolia (Benth.)
• Stachys aquatica (Bubani)
• Stachys palustris var. arenicola (Farw.)
• Stachys palustris var. phaneropoda (Weath. ex Fernald)
• Stachys austriaca (Heynh.)
• Stachys palustris var. insularis (Briq.)
• Stachys palustris var. petiolata (T.Durand)
• Stachys palustris var. segetum ((Hagen) Nyman)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vermont (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by M Anaïs (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2021 by nicolas pecqueux (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Dieter Cuypers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2018 by Mihajlo Tomić (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2019 by Lucie Eretová (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 21, 2022 by Guerrero joaquin (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2021 by nyah rangel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2021 by Céline R (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2020 by grutz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 24, 2021 by Marie Vauthier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2002 by Margreet Margreet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2020 by grutz (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jul 12, 2022 by Paweł W (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2021 by Céline R (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Tomaž Jančar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2021 by High Treeson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Barbara MAI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 23, 2022 by Maxime Zucca (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2021 by bucovina (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2927245)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:459820-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Stachys palustris L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Rhizomatous

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 5.7

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Soil nutriments: 6