# Marsh Skullcap (*Scutellaria galericulata*)

The Marsh Skullcap is a lovely plant that grows in wet areas. It has beautiful blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies, making it a special part of its habitat.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Marsh Skullcap](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Illustration_Scutellaria_galericulata0.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Scutellaria_galericulata0.jpg)

## Appearance

The Marsh Skullcap has distinctive blue-purple, helmet-shaped flowers that appear in pairs. Its upright stems are square, not round, and often form dense patches. The toothed, narrow leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Scutellaria

## Interesting facts

- Ancient cultures used close relatives of this plant for their calming properties!
- Each tiny Marsh Skullcap flower can produce thousands of microscopic seeds!
- Its name 'skullcap' comes from the flower's top looking like a tiny helmet!
- This plant's stems are square, a rare trait among common plants!

## Special abilities

- **Wetland Wonder:** Marsh Skullcap can thrive in waterlogged, marshy soils that most plants can't tolerate, helping it colonize damp areas.
- **Rhizome Racer:** Marsh Skullcap has underground stems called rhizomes that help it spread quickly and form large, dense colonies.
- **Hooded Helper:** Its uniquely shaped, hooded flowers guide specific insect pollinators, making nectar collection more efficient for them.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-Fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** European Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen and nectar
- **Eaten by:** [European Water Vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-water-vole) (*Arvicola amphibius*) — grazes on wetland plants

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Marsh Skullcap?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Marsh Skullcap?

20-60 cm

### How wide does Marsh Skullcap spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Marsh Skullcap?

1-2 cm

### When does Marsh Skullcap bloom?

Summer-Fall

### Is Marsh Skullcap edible?

No

### Is Marsh Skullcap toxic?

None

### What is Marsh Skullcap's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Marsh Skullcap: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-skullcap)