Marsh Woundwort

Like a small orchid… 🌺🌸
Marsh woundwort (scientific name Stachys palustris, family Lamiaceae) is a rustic plant widespread all over Europe, rare in Italy. It is typical of humid undergrowth and swamps and can be found up to 1300 meters above sea level.
Marsh woundworts have stems that reach 120 cm in height and bear delicate spike inflorescences with pink-violet 🌺🌸 flowers spotted with white.
Sheep and goats eat it (perhaps for its calming properties); bees 🐝 seek its nectar.
The plant was well known in ancient Europe, so much so that the Romans used it to treat 47 different ailments.
⁉️ Did you know? 😲
When the seeds fall to the ground, they are then collected and dispersed mainly by insects such as ants. In fact, the seeds have an oily part that attracts ants during their movements in search of food 🐜
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Photo Pixabay