common scullcap

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hooded skullcap
• marsh skullcap
• Skullcap
• marsh scullcap
• Common Skullcap
• common scullcap

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassida galericulata
• Scutellaria galericulata var. pauciflora
• Scutellaria galericulata var. pubescens
• Scutellaria galericulata f. uberrima
• Scutellaria galericulata f. albiflora
• Scutellaria galericulata var. humilis
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia
• Scutellaria galericulata var. pubens
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia f. albiflora
• Scutellaria epilobiifolia f. rosea
• Scutellaria galericulata var. epilobiifolia
• Scutellaria galericulata var. glaberrima
• Scutellaria galericulata f. rosea
• Scutellaria pauciflora

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 classified under the genus Scutellaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Its presence is documented throughout the country of Denmark. It can also be found growing in the wild landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is native to the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into the northern reaches of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Scutellaria galericulata is defined by its strong preference for moisture-rich and transitional environments. This plant thrives in diverse wetland ecosystems, ranging from the margins of lakes and rivers to the saturated soils of swamps and marshes. It is frequently found colonizing wet meadows and damp forest clearings, where it can establish itself amidst thick shrubberies and riparian vegetation. By occupying these hydric habitats, the species thrives in areas where soil moisture remains consistently high, allowing it to integrate into the complex structural layers of both aquatic edges and woodland wetlands.

Habitat :

forest, lakes, meadows: wet, rivers, shrubberies, swamps

Life history

The life history of Scutellaria galericulata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or near the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal adaptation to environmental changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Scutellaria galericulata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent life cycle without acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, with an average height of approximately 0.242 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.242 m

Plant height min:

0.08 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Scutellaria galericulata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate herbaceous species, facilitating carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients rather than the capture of insects. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of approximately 6.40417 cm², providing a consistent surface area for light interception. Furthermore, it possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 395.07 cm²/g, a physiological trait that reflects the relationship between its leaf mass and surface area, indicating its capacity for resource acquisition and light harvesting within its ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

6.40417 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

395.07 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Scutellaria galericulata is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the production of offspring. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through September. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects with a strong association with bees to facilitate pollen transfer. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, emphasizing the importance of cross-pollination. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.0007065 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0007 g to a maximum of 0.0008 g. The dispersal of these seeds is achieved through both hydrochorous and autochorous syndromes, allowing them to be spread by water or through self-dispersal mechanisms. There is no evidence of asexual reproduction in this species.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

8e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0007065 g

Seed mass min:

7e-04 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Scutellaria galericulata has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Baicalin, Caryophyllene, Chrysin 7-glucuronide, Dihydrobaicalein, Dihydronorwogonin.

Baicalin

1. Dr. Duke

Caryophyllene

1. Dr. Duke

Chrysin 7-glucuronide

1. Dr. Duke

Dihydrobaicalein

1. Dr. Duke

Dihydronorwogonin

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Germacrene D

1. Dr. Duke

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke

MENTHONE

1. Dr. Duke

Oroxylin A

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Scutellaria galericulata has 244 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiseptic, Astringent, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor.

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie

Astringent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Scutellaria galericulata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include burns, wounds.

Burns

1. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie

Wounds

1. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie