Cooley's Hedge Nettle
Stachys cooleyae
Description: This hairy perennial grows 70-150cm tall from rhizomes on square, largely unbranched stems. Leaves are opposite, deltoid or heart-egg-shaped, blunt toothed and hairy on both sides. Deep reddish purple flowers are hairy and 23-40mm long, its petals are fused into a two - lipped tube. Produces four nutlets.
Ecology: Grows in moist disturbed areas such as roadsides, clearings, thickets and open woods, common at low elevations.
Notes: This plant was found in a moist salmonberry thicket on the side of a logging road in West Sechelt, BC, June 2001.
Self-Heal
Prunella vulgaris
Description: This little perennial grows from fibrous roots 10-50cm tall on leafy, square stems that are usually unbranched and may be solitary or clustered. Leaves are opposite, egg shaped or elliptic, slightly hairy or hairless, may be slightly toothed. Flowers are purplish to pink 1-2cm long, on short stalks, numerous in dense spike like clusters.
Ecology: Grows on moist to moderately dry roadsides, clearings, fields, lawns and forest edges, common at low elevations, also at middle elevations.
Notes: P. vulgaris is introduced from Europe but the very similar P. lanceolata is apparently native. This plant was found on a logging road in West Sechelt, BC, June 2001. Medicinal Uses: Self heal has been used for centuries, perhaps millennia, throughout Europe as a wound herb to stop bleeding in the field, as well as in infusion for coughs, colds and flu's. The flowers are said to be useful for those who have lost their faith in their ability to get well.
Swamp Hedge Nettle
Stachys mexicana
Description: 15-60cm tall perennial, branched or unbranched squarish stems with mostly stalkless lance or egg shaped leaves, slightly hairy. Flowers are purplish with white spots. Crushed leaves produce an almost fish like odour, not at all minty.
Ecology: found on streambanks, lakeshores, wet meadows, roadsides and open raised bogs at lower elevations.
Notes: This one was found growing on the edge of a floating cedar log bog in Klein Lake at low elevation near Egmont, BC, it was growing next to some Sticky False Asphodel and some Sweet Gale.
Northern Water Horehound
Lycopus uniflorus
Description: Perennial from tubers, erect single stems are 10-50cm tall, usually unbranched and finely hairy. Opposite lance shaped short stalked leaves are irregularly toothed and are not really reduced in size up the stem. Produces small white or pinkish stalkless flowers, several to many in whorled clusters in the leaf axils.
Ecology: Found in marshes, streambanks, lake shores, bogs, and even growing on floating logs in lakes, common at low to middle elevation.
Notes: This one was photographed on a log floating in Carlson Lake at middle elevation, August 2006 photo.
