Seasonal Wild Flowers

Gipsywort

Lycopus europaeus

Lamiaceae

June to September

It is found throughout the country but is absent from parts

of the North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Gypsywort

It grows in wet soils on the banks of canals, rivers, streams

and lakes, and in ditches, marshes and dune-slacks.

Gipsywort is a native, rhizomatous, perennial herb, growing

up to 1m.

Flowers are in whorls up the stem. They are small (3mm),

white with purple-pink spots on the lower lip.

They are protandrous with the 2 stamens longer than the

corolla.

The calyx is persistent and spiked.

Leaves are oval to lanceolate, with triangular teeth, and

up to 10cm.

Stems are anguled and slightly hairy.

Previous page: Giant Scabious
Next page: Goat's-rue

Gipsywort, Lancaster canal

Whorls of small white flowers

Flowers- purple spots, stigmas,

stamens, sepals

Toothed leaves, angled stem