Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Synonyms
Moldavica parviflora
Other common names
dragonhead
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
8 to 30 inches
Riparian
Yes
Solitary or clustered stems arise from a taproot and are 6 to 32 inches tall. Leaves are coarsely serrate and flowers are crowded in a dense terminal or axillary cluster at the tip of the stems. This plant can also be a short-lived perennial.
Tall, upright leafy stemmed typically biennial or annual; leaf blades somewhat elliptic, serrate; leaf stems hairy; flower head dense and spike-like; small purplish-pink flowers that are strongly 2-lipped, upper lip entire or notched, lower lip 3-lobed.
Habitat
Open, moist sites and disturbed areas. Rocky limestone soil.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
The tiny flowers are 5-parted, under 1/2 inch long and irregularly tube-shaped. The dense, conical, spike-like cluster is 1 to 5 inches tall at the top of the stem.
Flower color
Purplish-pink
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Light green, coarsly toothed leaves stand stiffly out in an open, airy pattern from an erect, thick, square stem.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruits are 1-seeded nutlets.
Fruit type
Nutlet