ground ivy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• creeping Charlie
• field balm
• gill-over-the-ground
• ground-ivy
• haymaids
• run-away-robin
• Ground Ivy
• alehoffs
• cat's foot
• field-balm
• gill over the ground
• gill-over-the-hill
• runaway robin
• runaway-robin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calamintha hederacea
• Chamaeclema hederacea
• Chamaecissos hederaceus
• Glechoma hederacea var. micrantha
• Glechonion hederaceum
• Nepeta glechoma
• Nepeta rigida
• Glechoma hederacea villosa
• Nepeta hederacea f. albovariegata
• Glechoma hederacea var. parvifolia
• Glechoma hederacea f. verticillata
• Glechoma hederacea variegata
• Glechoma hederacea f. rosea
• Glechoma bulgarica
• Glechoma hederacea var. humilior
• Glechoma hederacea subsp. glabriuscula
• Nepeta hederacea
• Glechoma hederacea var. micrantha
• Glechoma hederacea var. montana
• Glechoma hederacea var. umbrosa
• Glechoma hederacea var. grandifolia
• Glechoma hederacea microcalyx
• Glechoma hederacea subsp. serbica
• Glechoma hederacea brevipetiolatum
• Glechoma heterophylla
• Glechoma hederacea var. major
• Glechoma hederacea var. grandiflora
• Glechoma hederacea var. heterophylla
• Glechoma hederacea var. magna
• Glechoma hederacea var. breviflora
• Glechoma hederacea var. hirsuta
• Glechoma serbica
• Glechoma intermedia
• Glechoma lobulata
• Glechoma longicaulis
• Glechoma magna
• Glechoma rigida
• Glechoma hederacea var. glabriuscula

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Glechoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence extends further west to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species is documented within the territories of Norway. Together, these locations define its specific geographical range within the northern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Glechoma hederacea is characterized by its ability to thrive across a wide variety of environmental settings and altitudinal gradients. It is commonly found in diverse habitats, including forests, meadows, shrubberies, and near rivers, and it has also demonstrated an adaptability to inhabited places. This species occupies a broad elevational range, extending from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 700 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, inhabited places, meadows, rivers, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Glechoma hederacea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a hemicryptophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. In terms of its architectural classification, it is also categorized as a chamaephyte, indicating its low-growing habit. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present for extended periods, providing consistent photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Glechoma hederacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. Structurally, it is a self-supporting species rather than a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a relatively low profile with a minimum height of 0.1 m, a maximum height of 0.6 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 0.288 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.288 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Glechoma hederacea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on standard soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 8.82 cm², which, when integrated with its biomass density, results in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 347.2 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf structural investment and light-harvesting capacity.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

8.82 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

347.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Glechoma hederacea is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in June. The pollination process is biotic, specifically utilizing an insect-based syndrome with a particular reliance on bees. Within its reproductive cycle, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. The resulting fruit is dry and contains a high density of seeds, ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are quite small, featuring a consistent seed volume of 0.61 mm³ and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.000679 g (with values recorded between 0.000679 g and 0.00069 g). Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via epizoochory, where seeds are transported by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00069 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000679 g

Seed volume max:

0.61 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Glechoma hederacea has 115 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include rosmarinic acid, Ursolic acid, CHLOROGENIC ACID, OLEANOLIC ACID, (+)-Pulegone.

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

(+)-Pulegone

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Pinocarvone

1. Dr. Duke

(10E,12Z)-9-Oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

(10E,12Z,15Z)-9-Oxo-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

(7R,8R)-THREO-7,9,9'-TRIHYDROXY-3,3'-DIMETHOXY-8-O-4'-NEOLIGNAN-4-O-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE

1. Journal of natural medicines

(9S,10E,12Z,15Z)-9-Hydroxy-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Glechoma hederacea has 583 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifibrotic, Antioxidant, Antiviral.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifibrotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Glechoma hederacea has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Vibrio fischeri, antiviral.

Vibrio fischeri

1. Plant signaling & behavior

Antiviral

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Glechoma hederacea has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, n-hexane extracts.

Extracts

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

N-hexane extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR