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 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Monarda |
| Species: | M. clinopodia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Monarda clinopodia | |
Description
editMonarda 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
editM. clinopodia typically grows in moist woods, thickets, ravines, and stream-banks and may also appear along roadsides.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Plants Profile for Monarda clinopodia (white bergamot)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- ^ a b "Monarda clinopodia (basil bee-balm): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ a b Fernald, M.L. Gray's Manual of Botany. p. 1237.
- ^ "Monarda clinopodia (Basil Beebalm, Basil Bergamot, White Bergamot) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
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