Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort

A very attractive perennial woundwort with long rhizomes that give rise to tubers at the end of the growing season. Like other woundworts it a has square stems and a somewhat unplesant smell, but not as strong as that of Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and unlike that species the stems are distinctively hollow. It produces large clumps of unbranched purple-flowered shoots in marshes, fens and other wet places, which are often very striking. It is a common plant in Britain and it is widespread in suitable habitats throughout West Glamorgan. It is a common feature of the emergent flora that occurs along canal banks in the county. Marsh Woundwort produces a number of interesting secondary metabolites, similar to those produced by Hedge Woundwort (see description of that species). It also hybridises with Hedge Woundwort, but the distribution of the hybrid (Stachys x ambigua) in West Glamorgan is unknown.

Native