Scutellaria parvula Michx. var. missouriensis (Torr.) Goodman & C.A. Lawson

Leonard's Skullcap

Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soil, woods, ledges, mostly calcareous.

Range: Quebec and Maine west to Manitoba, south to Florida and Texas.

Aids to Identification: Leonard's skullcap has opposite, sessile leaves and bluish bi-lipped flowers borne in the axils of the leaves. The stem and leaves are glandular-pubescent. The rhizome produces tubers. The plant does not have a fragrance. This is the only skullcap in Maine that produces tubers and has glandular-pubescent stem and leaves.

Ecological characteristics: Maine has two varieties of Scutellaria parvula: var. missouriensis and var. parvula. Both are rare. A few historic locations have been in moist soils along rivers.

Phenology: Flowering May through July

Family: Lamiaceae

Synonyms: Scutellaria ambigua Nutt.; Scutellaria leonardii Epling; Scutellaria nervosa Pursh var. ambigua (Nutt.) Fern.; Scutellaria parvula Michx. var. leonardii (Epling) Fern.

Known Distribution in Maine: This rare plant has historically been documented from a total of 4 towns in the following counties: Aroostook, Piscataquis, York

Reason(s) for rarity: At northern limit of range, not rare southward.

Conservation considerations: Unknown. It has not been seen recently.