horsemint

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dotted horsemint
• dotted monarda
• spotted beebalm
• horse-mint
• Dotted Mint
• spotted horsemint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Monarda punctata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Monarda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Monarda punctata, exhibits a specific presence within the North-Central region of the United States. Its documented geographical range includes several key states located in this central corridor. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Illinois and Iowa. Additionally, the species extends its distribution into Kansas and Minnesota. Finally, its habitat also encompasses the state of Missouri, rounding out its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Monarda punctata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during unfavorable conditions. This life form enables the species to undergo seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy, emerging from its underground structures to establish robust foliage and flowering stems once environmental conditions become favorable.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Monarda punctata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, lacking any climber or vine-like tendencies, and is categorized as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its habitat and growth habit, the plant is strictly terrestrial, possessing no aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic qualities.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Monarda punctata is characterized by a metabolic framework centered around a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and water-use efficiency. Under this pathway, the plant utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into three-carbon compounds during the Calvin cycle. This physiological mechanism influences its resource allocation, particularly regarding its transpiration rates and stomatal conductance, as the C3 pathway is more susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or water-limited conditions. Furthermore, its physiological processes include the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as thymol and carvacrol, which are integrated into its metabolic pathways to provide chemical defense and ecological resilience.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Monarda punctata is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and the production of minute seeds. The plant enters its flowering stage in July and continues its bloom through September. During this reproductive period, it produces seeds that are notably lightweight, with a mean seed mass of 0.000269 g. The variation in seed size is relatively narrow, ranging from a minimum mass of 0.0002 g (2e-04 g) to a maximum mass of 0.000327 g.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Seed mass max:

0.000327 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000269 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Monarda punctata has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVACROL, 1,8-Cineole, 3-OCTANOL, 3-Octyl acetate, ALPHA-PINENE.

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

1,8-Cineole

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3-OCTANOL

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3-Octyl acetate

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ALPHA-PINENE

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ALPHA-THUJENE

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Alpha terpinene

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BETA-PINENE

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BORNYL ACETATE

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CAMPHENE

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Activities

Monarda punctata has 210 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

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2. Chemistry & biodiversity

(-)-Chronotropic

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(-)-Inotropic

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5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

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ACE-Inhibitor

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AChE-Inhibitor

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Acaricide

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Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

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Allelochemic

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Allelopathic

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Conditions

Monarda punctata has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts.

Gram-negative bacteria

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Gram-positive bacteria

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Yeasts

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