Dragonmouth

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dragonmouth

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Melissa pyrenaica
• Pasina pyrenaea
• Horminum pyrenaicum f. minus
• Horminum pyrenaicum f. majus
• Thymus horminum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Horminum. Consequently, its scientific identity is defined by its placement as Horminum pyranaicum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Moving toward the west, it can also be found throughout Southwestern Europe. Specifically, its range extends into the territories of France and Spain. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Horminum pyrenaicum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate, which facilitates its survival during unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal growth cycle to manage resource allocation and withstand climatic shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Horminum pyrenaicum is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, existing primarily as a small herb. It functions as an independent, terrestrial plant that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively diminutive, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.09 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.09 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Horminum pyrenaicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism common to most temperate herbaceous species where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process relies on the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, making the plant's energy production highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture availability. As a C3 plant, it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species, meaning its gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency are closely tied to the regulation of stomatal conductance to balance CO2 uptake against transpirational water loss. This physiological framework governs its growth patterns, nutrient assimilation, and overall metabolic rate within its natural ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Horminum pyranaicum is characterized by a distinct flowering season and specific seed morphological traits. The plant begins its flowering period in June and continues through to September, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit notable variations in weight. The average seed mass is approximately 0.001467 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00071 g to a maximum of 0.00283 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Seed mass max:

0.00283 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00146666666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00071 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Horminum pyrenaicum has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (Z)-caryophyllene, Caryophyllene oxide, Flavonoids, MYRCENE, THYMOL.

(Z)-caryophyllene

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Flavonoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

MYRCENE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

THYMOL

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ursolic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

betulinic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

rosmarinic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity