Betonica officinalis 藥水蘇、歐水蘇、主教草

Common name: Betony
Scientific name: Betonica officinalis 藥水蘇、歐水蘇、主教草
Genus: Betonica 藥水蘇屬
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae 唇形科, mint or deadnettle or sage family

Remarks:

Origin: native

Date: 19th July

196 A sparsely pubescent, erect, rhizomatous perennial, can reach up to 60cm.

03 Basal leaves long-stalked, cordate, crenate (leaf margin with rounded teeth), forming persistent rosette.

04  Basal leaves long-stalked, 3-7cm.

05 Underside of the basal leaf.

205_1 Underside of the basal leaf slightly hairy.

202 Few stem leaves.

201 Stem leaves base acute, short-stalked.

201_1 Hairy, square stem. Leaf stalk also hairy.

07 Inflorescence with leaf-like bracts.

200 Side-view of the inflorescence.

200_1 Enlarged photo above showing leaf-like bract (B), several bracteoles (Be) surrounding the calyx tube (CxT). Bracteoles (Be) as least as long as calyx (calyx tube (CxT) with teeth). Purple corolla tube (CaT) more than 10mm long, longer than calyx (CxT with teeth), with upper lip (UP) and lower lip (UP).

199 Upper view of the inflorescence.

198 Closer look of the flowers.

197

208_1 Flower bud, showing calyx 5-toothed.

198_2 Lower lip 3-lobed.

199_1 Upper view showing the upper lip, corolla tube and the teethed calyx tube.

198_1 4 stamens with yellow anthers.

208_3 A withering flower, showing the 2-lobed stigma.

208_2 A fully open flower showing the shape of upper and lower lips. 2 stamens (the other 2 stamens are well hidden) and the 2-lobed stigma could be seen here.