Downy wood mint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Downy wood mint |
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Inflorescences | |
Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Blephilia
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Species: |
ciliata
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Synonyms | |
List
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Blephilia ciliata is a wild plant found in eastern North America. It's often called downy wood mint. This plant is a type of herb that grows back every year. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which is also known as the mint family. Other common names for this plant include downy pagoda-plant, sunny woodmint, and Ohio horsemint.
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Discovering Downy Wood Mint
The famous scientist Carl Linnaeus first described this plant. He named it Monarda ciliata. Later, another botanist named George Bentham gave it its current scientific name, Blephilia ciliata. This is the name scientists use today.
What Does Downy Wood Mint Look Like?
Downy wood mint is a type of perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows from about 40 to 80 centimeters tall. That's about the height of a small child. It has pretty flowers that grow in clusters around its stem.
Where Does Downy Wood Mint Grow?
This plant is native to eastern North America. You can find it growing in many states. It likes to grow in open woodlands and sunny areas. It is often found in places like the Great Lakes region. It also grows in the southeastern and northeastern parts of the United States.
How Was Downy Wood Mint Used?
Long ago, the Cherokee people used downy wood mint. They would make a special paste from the plant. This paste was called a poultice. They used it to help with headaches. This shows how people have used plants for medicine for a very long time.