Marsh scullcap (Scutellaria galericulata, Sp. Pl.: 599 (1753))

Family: Lamiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 599 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Scutellaria

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere

Description

Marsh Skullcap, scientifically known as Scutellaria galericulata, is a fascinating perennial herb that graces the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere with its presence. Described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work Species Plantarum in 1753, this plant is a member of the Lamiaceae family, commonly known as the mint or deadnettle family.

In its natural habitat, the Marsh Skullcap prefers wet environments such as marshes, fens, and the edges of ponds and streams. This affinity for moist soil conditions makes it a common sight in wetlands, where it thrives amidst the lush, waterlogged flora. Its geographical distribution spans a wide range across the Northern Hemisphere, stretching from North America to Europe and parts of Asia. This broad distribution attests to its adaptability to different temperate climates and various ecological niches within these regions.

The plant features characteristic square stems, a hallmark of the Lamiaceae family, and can reach heights of up to 60 centimeters (about 24 inches). The leaves are typically lance-shaped, serrated, and borne in opposite pairs along the stem, contributing to its distinctive and easily recognizable appearance. During its blooming period, which generally occurs from June to September, Marsh Skullcap produces beautiful, tubular flowers that possess a charming bluish-purple hue. These flowers attract a myriad of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem by promoting pollination and maintaining biodiversity.

Marsh Skullcap has been studied for its potential medicinal properties. Various cultures have used different species within the Scutellaria genus for their purported health benefits, which range from anti-inflammatory and sedative effects to treatments for anxiety and insomnia. However, it is essential to approach its use with caution and consult with healthcare professionals due to the specific biochemical properties and potential side effects associated with its active compounds.

In summary, Marsh Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) is not only valued for its ecological contributions and aesthetic appeal but also holds a place of interest in ethnobotany and herbal medicine. Its widespread presence across the Northern Hemisphere reinforces its status as an integral component of wetland ecosystems, providing essential services to both wildlife and humans.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig skjolddrager
Eng: hooded skullcap, marsh scullcap, marsh skullcap, skullcap
Deu: sumpf-helmkraut, sumpfhelmkraut, sumpf helmkraut
Nld: blauw glidkruid
Swe: frossört, luhtavuohennokka, getnos, vanlig frossört
Fin: luhtavuohennokka
Fra: scutellaire casquée, scutellaire toque, grande toque, scutellaire à casque, scutellaire à grande fleur, tertianaire
Nno: skjoldberar
Nob: skjoldbærer
Sme: gáiccanjunni
Cym: cap nos tadcu, cwcwll, cycyll-lys, cycyll-lys mwyaf, cycyllog, cycyllog mwyaf
En: Marsh scullcap, Skullcap, Marsh skullcap, Hooded Skullcap, Common scullcap, Common Skullcap
Ar: هربون مقلنس
Be: Шлёмнік звычайны
Bg: Обикновена превара
Ca: Escutel·lària
Zh: 盔状黄芩
Cs: Šišák vroubkovaný
Da: Almindelig Skjolddrager
Nl: Blauw glidkruid
Et: Harilik tihashein
Fi: Luhtavuohennokka, Vuohennokka
Fr: Scutellaire casquée, Grande toque, Scutellaire a casque, Scutellaire à casque, Scutellaire toque, Scutellaire à grande fleur, Tertianaire, Herbe judaïque, Trétianaire
De: Sumpf Helmkraut, Gewöhnliches Helmkraut, Sumpf-Helmkraut, Sumpfhelmkraut, Kappen-Helmkraut
He: קערורית הביצה
It: Scutellaria palustre, Scutellaia comune
Lt: Pelkinė kalpokė
Se: Gáiccanjunni
No: Skjoldberar
Nb: Skjoldbærer
Nn: Skjoldberar
Fa: بشقابی معمولی
Pl: Tarczyca pospolita
Ru: Шлемник обыкновенный
Sk: Šišak vrúbkovaný
Es: Navadna čeladnica, Canina, Casida, Escutelaria común, Escutelaria, Hierba de la celada, Tercianaria, Terciaria, Yerba de la celada
Sv: Frossört, Getnos, Luhtavuohennokka, Vanlig frossört
Uk: Шоломниця звичайна
Cy: Cycyllog, Cap Nos Tadcu, Cwcwll, Cycyll-Lys, Cycyll-Lys Mwyaf, Cycyllog Mwyaf

Synonyms

• Scutellaria galericulata var. pubens (Crép.)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. pauciflora ((Pant.) Nyman)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. humilis (Tinant)
• Scutellaria adamsii (Spreng.)
• Scutellaria galericulata f. uberrima (C.G.Westerl.)
• Scutellaria pauciflora (Pant.)
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia (A.Ham.)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. vulgaris (Benth.)
• Cassida galericulata ((L.) Scop.)
• Cassida major (Gilib.)
• Scutellaria galericulata f. rosea (E.L.Rand & Redfield)
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia f. albiflora (Fernald)
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia f. rosea (Fernald)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. glaberrima (Benth.)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. epilobiifolia ((A.Ham.) Jordal)
• Scutellaria galericulata f. albiflora (Millsp.)
• Scutellaria galericulata var. pubescens (Mutel)

Distribution

• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• Florida (native)
• France (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Texas (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Yukon (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 13, 2022 by Jan Unruh (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Stephane Eduardo De Oliveira (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 8, 2016 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2021 by keiko ohashi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 2, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Quentin LEBASTARD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − LE ROY Jean-Pierre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 29, 2021 by hieracium eriophorum (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (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.

Bark

Taken Sep 13, 2020 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

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

Taken Jun 18, 2016 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − John DE VOS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 20, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2019 by Tim Konsul (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2017 by Jose Luis Romero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 13, 2020 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2021 by catherine white (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2926759)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:458280-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Scutellaria galericulata L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 6.5

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 9

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 6