Gill-over-the-ground

(Glechoma hederacea)

 

Color photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Plant creeping, ivylike. Flowers violet, large relative to plant size. Corolla, elongate, trumpetlike. Lower petal lobe broad, bilobed at the tip, bordered by petal lobes on either side. Inside of corolla white, but heavily spotted with dark violet. Flowers arranged in small whorls in the leaf axils. Stem square, tinged with purple. Leaves kidney-shaped, heavily toothed.

Distribution: Throughout North America.

Habitat: Gill-over-the-ground is found in a variety of disturbed habitats such as lawns, empty lots, and roadsides.

Flowering period: April to July.

Gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea)

Similar Species:

The creeping, ivy-like habitus of the species as well as the beautiful violet flowers and the toothed, kidney-shaped leaves easily identify this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species