Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Scrophulariaceae

Turtlehead

(Chelone glabra)

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.

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra L.)

Identification: Flowers large, ovate, white to slightly tinged with pink. Upper 2 petals lobes fused into a large convex hoodlike structure. Lower 3 petal lobes forming a 3 lobed lower banner. Flowers clustered in a terminal spike. Leaves in opposite pairs, large, ovate-elongate, with heavily toothed outer margins. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Turtlehead is found on wet ground and along stream and river banks.

Flowering period: July to September.

Similar Species: Red Turtlehead has pink to red-pink flowers. The flowers of Turtlehead, in contrast are white to white with a pink tinge.