marsh hedgenettle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• marsh betony
• marsh hedge-nettle
• marsh woundwort
• Hedge-nettle
• woundwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stachys palustris var. segetalis
• Stachys palustris var. insularis
• Stachys palustris var. agrestis
• Stachys aquatica
• Stachys austriaca
• Stachys maeotica
• Stachys palustris f. cleoniquei
• Stachys palustris var. angustifolia
• Stachys palustris var. arenicola
• Stachys palustris var. hybrida
• Stachys palustris var. macrocalyx
• Stachys palustris var. nipigonensis
• Stachys palustris var. phaneropoda
• Stachys segetum
• Stachys wolgensis
• Stachys palustris var. segetum
• Stachys palustris var. cinerea
• Stachys palustris var. petiolata

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 Stachys.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several regions within Northern Europe. Its natural range includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It is also documented growing throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species can be located across Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its distribution extends to the northern territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stachys palustris is characterized by its preference for highly moist and saturated environments, allowing it to thrive in a variety of wetland-associated ecosystems. It is commonly found colonizing the margins of lakes and the banks of rivers, where it can access constant water availability. Beyond aquatic edges, the species successfully inhabits wet meadows and damp forest clearings, where soil moisture remains consistently high. This ability to inhabit diverse hydric zones, ranging from open lacustrine environments to shaded, moisture-rich terrestrial settings, defines its ecological niche as a specialist of damp and riparian landscapes.

Habitat :

forest, lakes, meadows: wet, rivers

Life history

The life history of Stachys palustris is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable periods. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it transitions through seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stachys palustris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining an independent and terrestrial lifestyle. In terms of stature, the plant varies in height, with a minimum measurement of 0.2 m, a maximum of 1.2 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 0.684 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.684 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stachys palustris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than insectivory. Its foliar morphology exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 9.3772 cm², with leaves reaching a maximum length of 7 cm. The leaf width is highly consistent, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 2 cm. Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 359.99 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for balancing light interception and resource investment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf size mean:

9.3772 cm²

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

359.99 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stachys palustris is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in September. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees serving as a primary pollinator. Within its reproductive structure, self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success. Following fertilization, the plant employs an autochorous dispersal syndrome to spread its seeds. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00103 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.000775 g to a maximum of 0.00151 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00151 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00103033333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.000775 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stachys palustris has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Stachys palustris has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include endometrial hyperplasia, fibroid.

Endometrial hyperplasia

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Fibroid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Stachys palustris has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)