Specimen #61Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Top photo by grandpaspix near Elkhart
Bottom photo by me near Boone
This flower may look familiar -- Bee Balm is a frequent garden variety of Monarda.
The Missouri Plants website has great informationfor this species if you would like to learn about its physical characteristics. The structure is very distinctive to me, making it easy to recognize.
I found this patch of bergamot north of Boone in a fence row. I have not seen wild bergamot very often. It is a field flower, and blooms from June through September.
If you visit the Illinois Museum website, you can read about some interesting uses this plant has had.
No comments:
Post a Comment