# 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!

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

![Marsh Woundwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stachys_palustris_2005.07.03_12.12.10.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Michael Becker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stachys_palustris_2005.07.03_12.12.10.jpg)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

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

## 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

- **Wetland Warrior:** Marsh Woundwort can thrive in waterlogged soil thanks to adaptations in its roots that prevent suffocation.
- **Rhizome Racer:** It has underground stems called rhizomes that help it quickly spread and colonize damp areas.
- **Fuzzy Defender:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [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.
- [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 pick plants unless an adult says it's okay!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Marsh Woundwort?

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 Woundwort?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Marsh Woundwort spread?

30-60 cm

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

1-2 cm

### When does Marsh Woundwort bloom?

Summer

### Is Marsh Woundwort edible?

Yes

### Is Marsh Woundwort toxic?

None

### What is Marsh Woundwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Grand Isle State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-isle-state-park) — Louisiana, US · State Park

## 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 Woundwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-woundwort)