Monarda

Inflorescence of a bee balm ( Monarda didyma L.).

Monarda is a plant genus in the subfamily of Nepetoideae within the mint family ( Lamiaceae). The home is North America. The Spanish doctor Nicolas Monardes (1493-1578) described in 1569 the healing properties of some " New World plants ," including this genus.

Description

Monarda species grow as annuals to perennial herbaceous plants. Often they contain essential oils and aromatic scented. The most against permanent leaves are stalked. The simple leaf blade is serrated. Stipules absent.

The flowers are borne in Scheinquirlen. In the field of flowers, the leaves are smaller, but dyed striking. The bracts are small. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and most fünfzählig. The five sepals are fused Roehrig, with five unequal calyx teeth. The five red, purple, white, gray or yellow, dotted petals are fused. This " lip flower" consists of an " upper lip " and a " lower lip ". The narrow upper lip is composed of two, and the lower lip of three petals which are seen as Kronlappen. There are only two fertile stamens present, which are adherent to the base of the corolla tube; the others are reduced or two are still rudimentary. Two carpels are fused into a superior ovaries; it is divided by false septa into four chambers. The style ends in two scars.

There shall be smooth Klaus fruit.

Types (selection)

The genus Monarda includes about six to twelve species:

• Monarda austromontana Epling
• Monarda bradburiana L.C.Beck
• Lemon mint, bergamot or prairie Indians mint ( Monarda citriodora Cerv. Ex Lag.)
• Monarda clinopodia L.
• Bee Balm or Monarda, Scarlet Monarda ( Monarda didyma L.)
• Wild bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa L.)
• Monarda pectinata Nutt.
• Monarda pringlei Fernald
• Horse mint ( Monarda punctata L.)
• Monarda russian liana Nutt.

Use

As an ornamental in parks and gardens, the varieties of Monarda didyma the intersection of Monarda fistulosa and be used.

Plant parts of some species are used as medicinal plants and the pouring of tea.

Swell

• Xi -wen Li & Ian C. Hedge: Lamiaceae in the Flora of China, Volume 17, p 223: Monarda - Online.