showy skullcap (Scutellaria serrata)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON NAME:
showy skullcap

 

SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS: There are no scientific synonyms for
Scutellaria serrata.

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Pending confirmation.

 

TAXONOMY: The currently accepted scientific name for showy
skullcap is Scutellaria serrata Andrews.

 

NATIVE STATUS: Native, United States.

 

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Habit: Showy skullcap is a herbaceous perennial growing to a height for

1 to 2 feet. It has a single unbranched, hairless (or nearly so) square stem

arising from a woody base.

 

Leaves: Leaves usually 4 or 5 pairs, the upper ones the largest with short

petioles. The leaves are hairless, large (2 to 4 inches), ovate, coarsely tooth-

ed and pointed. Lower leaves with base tapering into a long petiole.

 

Flowers: The flowers are tubular, narrow, violet-blue in color, snapdragon shaped-flowers. Upper petal a concave caplike structure with two smaller,

lateral petal lobes. Bottom petal lobes fused into a downward hanging, bi-

lobed lip. Corolla tube bent upwards. Flowers arranged in a terminal ra-

ceme (loose spike).

 

Fruit/Seeds: Nutlets about 2 mm. in diameter, covered with small, blunt projections.

 

Roots: Insufficient information.

 

REGENERATION PROCESS: Showy skullcap propogates itself by
reseeding.

 

HABITAT TYPES: Habitats include rich open woods, thickets, clear-
ings, and along river banks.

 

SITE CHARACTERISTICS: Showy skullcap prefers partial to full
shade and does best in rich, well drained, moderately moist soil.

 

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT: Showy skullcap blooms in late spring,
to early summer, May and June.

 

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION: Showy skullcap naturally occurs in the
eastern portion of the United States, ranging from Florida to New York,

and west to the states adjacent to the Mississippi River/Ohio River. It does

not naturally occur in the New England states, mid-West, southwest, far

west or northwest states. It does not naturally occur in any Canadian prov-

ince.

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION: To be determined.

 

IMPORTANCE AND USES: There is insufficient information pertaining

to the faunal and floral relationships.

 

Showy skullcap is used as an ornamental, particularly for moist to dry
woodland or shade gardens.

 

 

Back to Inventory of Herb/Forb Families and Species