Black Horehound

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black horehound
• fetid horehound

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stachys ballota

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Ballota, with the species name nigra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found further north within the borders of Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is established in Belgium. Additionally, its range extends through the central territories of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ballota nigra is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it thrives in specific topographical settings. It is typically found occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 500 m AMSL. This distribution pattern indicates that the species is primarily adapted to low-altitude habitats, favoring the environmental conditions found in warmer, lower-lying regions.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Ballota nigra is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil cover during unfavorable conditions. This species maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage throughout various seasonal transitions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ballota nigra is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting, independent plant that does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial habitat. The shoots exhibit an erect orientation, allowing the plant to reach various heights depending on environmental conditions; typically, it reaches a minimum height of 0.25 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.8125 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.8125 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ballota nigra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil rather than capturing prey. The leaf morphology is defined by a mean leaf size of 7.17 cm², with dimensions showing a mean width of 0.3 cm and a minimum width of 0.3 cm, while the leaf length reaches a maximum of 0.4 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 212.5 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the relationship between its leaf area and its dry mass, providing insight into its resource allocation and leaf thickness strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

0.4 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.17 cm²

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

212.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ballota nigra is primarily achieved through sexual means, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The plant features bisexual flowers, which facilitate reproductive processes through the presence of self-fertilization. The flowering period is quite extensive, typically beginning in June and continuing through October. The pollination syndrome is classified as biotic, specifically relying on insects, with bees being a primary pollinator. Following successful pollination, the plant produces a high volume of seeds, with a yield exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are remarkably small, characterized by a mean mass of approximately 0.00093515 g, with a minimum mass of 0.00073 g and a maximum mass of 0.0011 g. Dispersal of the seeds is categorized as zoochorous, specifically utilizing an epizoochorous mechanism, where seeds are dispersed by attaching to the bodies of animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.0011 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00093515 g

Seed mass min:

0.00073 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ballota nigra has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Ballota nigra has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ballotetroside, Forsythoside B, Verbascoside, arenarioside, 13-Hydroxyballonigrinolide.

ballotetroside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Phytochemistry
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Forsythoside B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Verbascoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Arzneimittel-Forschung

arenarioside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Arzneimittel-Forschung

13-Hydroxyballonigrinolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

(+)-(E)-Caffeoyl-L-malic acid

1. Dr. Duke

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Alyssonoside

1. Dr. Duke

Angoroside A

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ballota nigra has 309 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neurosedative, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Neurosedative

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ballota nigra has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, anxiety, atherogenesis, depression.

Candida albicans

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Anxiety

1. Cells

Atherogenesis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Depression

1. Cells

Preparations

Ballota nigra has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include flowered aerial parts, hydroalcoholic extract.

Flowered aerial parts

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung