Marsh Woundwort

Stachys palustris

Marsh Woundwort is a lovely plant that grows in wet areas like marshes. It has pretty purple flowers and soft, fuzzy leaves that are fun to touch!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Marsh Woundwort has distinctive square stems and hairy, lance-shaped leaves. Its small, hooded flowers are a lovely purplish-pink, often with darker markings, growing in whorls around the stem.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyLamiaceaeGenusStachys

Marsh Woundwort

Interesting facts

Ancient people used this plant to help heal wounds, giving it its "Woundwort" name!

It can form huge patches in wet fields, creating a purple carpet of flowers!

Like mint, its stem is square! Roll it between your fingers to feel its unique shape.

You can actually eat its crunchy root tubers, which taste a bit like tiny potatoes.

Special abilities

Marsh Woundwort can thrive in waterlogged soil thanks to adaptations in its roots that prevent suffocation.

It has underground stems called rhizomes that help it quickly spread and colonize damp areas.

Its leaves are covered in fine hairs, which can help deter some hungry insects and retain moisture.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-100 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

eats

Woundwort Case-bearer

Coleophora annulatella

larvae feed on the plant's leaves

eats

Spanish Slug

Arion vulgaris

grazes on foliage and stems

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Aromatic

Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.