Today … a plant.

Take a walk and you’ll find motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) blooming now in western Pennsylvania.  Originally from Eurasia, this member of the Mint family is now at home on many continents because it’s useful as an herbal remedy for heart disease and childbirth.

Its flowers are furry dragon mouths arranged in whorls around the stem, similar in shape to purple deadnettle, a near relative.  Its square stem gives us the hint that it’s a mint.

In full sun motherwort is knee high or even taller so you won’t miss it.  Its opposite, toothed leaves look like paws but are sometimes confused with mugwort leaves.

I prefer to identify motherwort when it’s in bloom.  😉

(photos by Kate St. John)