Cunila origanoides, with the common namesstone mint, frost mint, dittany, and American dittany,[3] is a perennial late-summer-flowering subshrub with small purple flowers that is native to the central and eastern United States.[4] It belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is the only species in the Cunila genus native to the United States.[5] It grows in habitats such as dry forests and the thin soil around rock outcrops.[6] This species has historically been cultivated for use as a medicinal herb, tea, and ornamental plant.
C. origanoides is a low, shrublike plant with square, stiff, branching stems, growing 15–46 cm (0.5–1.5 ft) tall. In the spring, the stems are purple, turning red when the plant is in bloom, then brown and woody in the fall. Leaves are opposite and measure 2–4 cm (0.7–1.5 in) long. They are sessile or have very short petioles. They are lanceolate, ovate, or ovate-cordate, with finely toothed margins. When crushed, the leaves give off a strong mint aroma.[7][8]
American dittany in December
Small purple or lavender flowers, measuring up to 0.8 cm (0.3 in) long, appear in clusters of cymes at the end of branches. The flowers are tubular with 4 flared lobes. The 2 stamens and the style are twice as long as the corolla and stick out noticeably.[7]
Distribution and habitatedit
The plant is native in the United States from Texas to the west and south, Illinois and New York to the north, and North Carolina to the east.[4] It is found in dry areas in upland rocky woodlands, rocky slopes and ridges, and semi-shaded areas of sandstone cliffs.[8]
Ecologyedit
The plant blooms in the late summer and fall, and butterflies, bees, and other insects are attracted to the flowers.[7] It is a host plant for the moth Stephensia cunilae.[9]C. origanoides is one of the few plants that are known to produce frost flowers.[10]
Usesedit
The leaves of C. origanoides, either fresh or dried, have been used for making tea with a pleasant, mint flavor. The tea can also be used for headaches, colds, and fevers, as well as for inducing menstruation and perspiration. Cunila oil, an essential oil, can be used as an antiseptic, aromatic and stimulant.[11]
Referencesedit
^"NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
^"The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
^ abUSDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Cunila origanoides". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
^"2013 BONAP North American Plant Atlas. TaxonMaps". bonap.net.
cunila, origanoides, with, common, names, stone, mint, frost, mint, dittany, american, dittany, perennial, late, summer, flowering, subshrub, with, small, purple, flowers, that, native, central, eastern, united, states, belongs, lamiaceae, mint, family, only, . Cunila origanoides with the common names stone mint frost mint dittany and American dittany 3 is a perennial late summer flowering subshrub with small purple flowers that is native to the central and eastern United States 4 It belongs to the Lamiaceae mint family and is the only species in the Cunila genus native to the United States 5 It grows in habitats such as dry forests and the thin soil around rock outcrops 6 This species has historically been cultivated for use as a medicinal herb tea and ornamental plant Cunila origanoidesConservation statusSecure NatureServe 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder LamialesFamily LamiaceaeGenus CunilaSpecies C origanoidesBinomial nameCunila origanoides L BrittonSynonyms 2 Cunila mariana L Hedyosmos origanoides L Kuntze Mappia origanoides L House Satureja origanoides L Ziziphora mariana L Roem amp Schult Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Uses 5 References 6 External linksDescription editC origanoides is a low shrublike plant with square stiff branching stems growing 15 46 cm 0 5 1 5 ft tall In the spring the stems are purple turning red when the plant is in bloom then brown and woody in the fall Leaves are opposite and measure 2 4 cm 0 7 1 5 in long They are sessile or have very short petioles They are lanceolate ovate or ovate cordate with finely toothed margins When crushed the leaves give off a strong mint aroma 7 8 nbsp American dittany in DecemberSmall purple or lavender flowers measuring up to 0 8 cm 0 3 in long appear in clusters of cymes at the end of branches The flowers are tubular with 4 flared lobes The 2 stamens and the style are twice as long as the corolla and stick out noticeably 7 Distribution and habitat editThe plant is native in the United States from Texas to the west and south Illinois and New York to the north and North Carolina to the east 4 It is found in dry areas in upland rocky woodlands rocky slopes and ridges and semi shaded areas of sandstone cliffs 8 Ecology editThe plant blooms in the late summer and fall and butterflies bees and other insects are attracted to the flowers 7 It is a host plant for the moth Stephensia cunilae 9 C origanoides is one of the few plants that are known to produce frost flowers 10 Uses editThe leaves of C origanoides either fresh or dried have been used for making tea with a pleasant mint flavor The tea can also be used for headaches colds and fevers as well as for inducing menstruation and perspiration Cunila oil an essential oil can be used as an antiseptic aromatic and stimulant 11 nbsp References edit NatureServe Explorer 2 0 explorer natureserve org The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species Retrieved 24 June 2015 Cunila origanoides Germplasm Resources Information Network Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 24 June 2015 a b USDA NRCS n d Cunila origanoides The PLANTS Database plants usda gov Greensboro North Carolina National Plant Data Team Retrieved 22 September 2018 2013 BONAP North American Plant Atlas TaxonMaps bonap net Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora a b c American Dittany Cunila origanoides www illinoiswildflowers info a b Know Your Natives Dittany Arkansas Native Plant Society 31 December 2016 HOSTS The Hostplants and Caterpillars Database at the Natural History Museum www nhm ac uk Dittany Missouri Department of Conservation Cunila origanoides Stone Mint Common dittany PFAF Plant Database pfaf org Pink A 2004 Gardening for the Million Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation External links editHenriette s Herbal Plants for a Future Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cunila origanoides amp oldid 1128515797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
