Clinopodium dentatum explained

Clinopodium dentatum (syn. Calamintha dentata) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names toothed savory and Florida calamint. It is native to Florida and Georgia in the United States.[1]

This bushy shrub grows up to 30 to 70 centimeters tall. It is aromatic, with a mint scent. The stems have thin, peeling, gray-bron bark. The oppositely arranged yellow-green leaves are lance-shaped to oval and roughly one centimeter in length. They are hairy and glandular. The flower has a hairy, lipped corolla about 1.5 centimeters long not counting its tubular throat. It is lavender in color with a pale, dark-flecked spot on the lower lip. This is "perhaps the weediest species of the genus," and is sometimes the dominant shrub in the habitat, becoming locally common.[2]

This plant occurs in sandy habitat such as sandhills and the Florida scrub. It is also able to colonize disturbed habitat such as roadsides.[1] Most occurrences are in Florida, but it is also known from Tattnall County, Georgia.[2]

This plant may be threatened by the conversion of its habitat to silviculture.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=666 Calamintha dentata.
  2. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Clinopodium+dentatum Clinopodium dentatum.