''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family,

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...

. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",''Scutellaria parvula'' var. ''missouriensis''.
Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. or "little dish", referring to the shape of the

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

. The common name alludes to the resemblance of the same structure to "miniature medieval helmets". The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution,Ulloa, C. U. and P. M. Jørgensen
''Scutellaria''.
''Árboles y arbustos de los Andes del Ecuador''. eFloras. with species occurring nearly worldwide, mainly in temperate regions.''Scutellaria''.
The Jepson eFlora 2013.

Description

Most Scutellaria are annual or perennial herbaceous plants from tall, however a few are

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

s. Some Scutellaria are aquatic. Scutellaria have four-angled stems and opposite

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

, and flowers with upper and lower lips. The genus is most easily recognized by the typical shield on the calyx that has also prompted its common name.

Traditional use

Skullcaps are used in traditional medicine, such as in traditional Chinese medicine. The root of '' Scutellaria baicalensis'' a common component of many preparations is marketed in volumes that have led to the

overexploitation Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term app ...

of the wild plant. Its rarity has led to an increase in price, and encouraged the adulteration of the product with other species of ''Scutellaria''. In 1773, '' Scutellaria lateriflora'' became a common treatment in North America for the hysteria and hydrophobia caused by rabies. Today it is still a popular medicinal herb. It is widely available as a commercial product used in western herbalism. The plant reportedly commands prices of $16 to $64 per pound dry weight.

Constituents

The main compounds in skullcap are

flavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

s. Isolated chemical compounds include wogonin, wogonoside, and 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxyl flavanone found in ''Scutellaria''. Other constituents include baicalin, apigenin, oroxylin A, and scutellarein.

Selected species

Estimates of the number of species in the genus range from around 300 to about 350''Scutellaria''.
Flora of China. or 360 to 470. Selected species include: *'' Scutellaria alabamensis'' – Alabama skullcap *'' Scutellaria albida'' *'' Scutellaria alborosea'' Lem. *''

Scutellaria alpina ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",L. – alpine skullcap *'' Scutellaria altamaha'' – pineland skullcap *'' Scutellaria altissima'' L. – Somerset skullcap, tall skullcap *''

Scutellaria amoena ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria anatolica ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria angustifolia'' – narrowleaf skullcap *''

Scutellaria antirrhinoides ''Scutellaria antirrhinoides'' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names nose skullcap and snapdragon skullcap. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in forests, woodlands, and open, rock ...

'' Benth. – nose skullcap *''

Scutellaria arenicola ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Mentha, mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",

'' – Florida scrub skullcap *'' Scutellaria arguta'' – Blue Ridge skullcap *'' Scutellaria atriplicifolia'' *'' Scutellaria aurata'' *'' Scutellaria baicalensis'' Georgi – Baikal skullcap, Chinese skullcap *''

Scutellaria barbata ''Scutellaria barbata'', the barbed skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Asia.

'' D.Don – barbed skullcap *'' Scutellaria bolanderi'' A.Gray – Sierra skullcap *''

Scutellaria brachyspica ''Scutellaria brachyspica'' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is endemic to Japan, where it is found on the islands of Honshu (south of Miyagi Prefecture) and Shikoku.Scutellaria brittonii'' – Britton's skullcap *''

Scutellaria bushii ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria caerulea'' – blue skullcap *''

Scutellaria californica ''Scutellaria californica'', the California skullcap, is a species of plant endemic to California. It is found in the scrub and low elevation mountains of Northern California. It is a small plant growing up to half a meter high, bearing small, ...

'' A.Gray – California skullcap *''

Scutellaria cardiophylla ''Scutellaria cardiophylla'', known as gulf skullcap and heartleaf skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma; it is considered a rare/imperiled species across most of ...

'' – gulf skullcap *'' Scutellaria columnae'' *'' Scutellaria costaricana''

H.Wendl. Hermann Wendland (October 11, 1825 in Herrenhausen – January 12, 1903 in Hanover) was a German botanist and gardener. He was a noted authority on the family Arecaceae (palms), on which he published a major monograph which formed the basis for t ...

– scarlet skullcap, Costa Rican skullcap *'' Scutellaria drummondii'' – Drummond's skullcap *'' Scutellaria elliptica'' Muhl. – hairy skullcap *'' Scutellaria floridana'' Chapm. – Florida skullcap *'' Scutellaria formosana'' *''

Scutellaria galericulata ''Scutellaria galericulata'', the common skullcap, marsh skullcap or hooded skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb native to northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and almost all of Canada. It is a member of the mint fam ...

'' L. – common skullcap, marsh skullcap *'' Scutellaria glabriuscula'' – Georgia skullcap *''

Scutellaria hastifolia ''Scutellaria hastifolia'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromat ...

'' – spear-leaved skullcap *'' Scutellaria havanensis'' – Havana skullcap *'' Scutellaria hirta'' *'' Scutellaria hookeri'' *'' Scutellaria humilis'' *''

Scutellaria incana ''Scutellaria incana'', the hoary skullcap or downy skullcap, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae (mint family) and is native to North America. It is a perennial flowering plant and is primarily found in the eastern United States as w ...

'' Biehler – downy skullcap, hoary skullcap *''

Scutellaria incarnata ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria indica ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria integrifolia'' L. – helmet flower *'' Scutellaria laevis'' – Culberson County skullcap *'' Scutellaria lateriflora'' L. – blue skullcap, Virginian skullcap *'' Scutellaria longifolia'' Benth. *'' Scutellaria longituba'' *'' Scutellaria meehanioides'' *'' Scutellaria mexicana'' *'' Scutellaria microphylla'' – littleleaf skullcap *''

Scutellaria minor ''Scutellaria minor'', the lesser skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. Description ''Scutellaria minor'' grows to tall, with narrowly ovate leaves arranged oppositely. Flowers are borne in the leaf axil, axils of t ...

'' Huds. – lesser skullcap *''

Scutellaria montana ''Scutellaria montana'', with the common names largeflower skullcap, large-flowered skullcap and mountain skullcap, is an perennial forb first described by Alvan Chapman in 1878. This narrowly endemic species is found in the southeastern Unite ...

'' Chapm. – mountain skullcap, large-flowered skullcap *''

Scutellaria multiglandulosa Scutellaria multiglandulosa is a flowering plant in the genus ''Scutellaria''and family Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are ar ...

'' – Small's skullcap *'' Scutellaria muriculata'' – Rio Grande skullcap *''

Scutellaria nana ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria nervosa'' – veiny skullcap *'' Scutellaria novae-zelandaie'' *''

Scutellaria ocmulgee ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Mentha, mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",

'' – Ocmulgee skullcap *'' Scutellaria orientalis'' *''

Scutellaria ovata ''Scutellaria ovata'', commonly known as the heartleaf skullcap, is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its range in the United States is from Minnesota to Florida, and from Texas to the Atlantic coast. It is also native to Mexico. Desc ...

'' Hill – heart-leaved skullcap *'' Scutellaria parvula'' Michx. – small skullcap *''

Scutellaria pekinensis ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Mentha, mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",

'' *''

Scutellaria potosina ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria pseudoserrata'' – falseteeth skullcap *''

Scutellaria purpurascens ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria racemosa'' – South American skullcap *'' Scutellaria rehderiana'' *''

Scutellaria resinosa ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria rubicunda ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria sapphirina ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria sarmentosa ''Scutellaria sarmentosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all ...

'' *'' Scutellaria saxatilis'' – smooth rock skullcap *''

Scutellaria serboana ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria serrata'' – showy skullcap *'' Scutellaria siphocampyloides'' – grayleaf skullcap *'' Scutellaria splendens'' *'' Scutellaria strigillosa'' *''

Scutellaria suffrutescens ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria texana'' – Texas skullcap *'' Scutellaria thieretii'' – Thieret's skullcap *''

Scutellaria tuberosa ''Scutellaria tuberosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Danny's skullcap. It is native to western North America from Oregon through California to Baja California, where it is widespread throughout ...

'' Benth. – Danny's skullcap *'' Scutellaria utriculata'' *''

Scutellaria ventenatii ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria violacea'' *''

Scutellaria viscidula ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria wrightii ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Piper methysticum'' (kava), another anxiolytic

GABAergic In molecular biology and physiology, something is GABAergic or GABAnergic if it pertains to or affects the neurotransmitter GABA. For example, a synapse is GABAergic if it uses GABA as its neurotransmitter, and a GABAergic neuron produces GABA. A ...

plant *''

Valeriana officinalis Valerian (''Valeriana officinalis'', Caprifoliaceae) is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of , it bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly specie ...

'' ( valerian), a sedative GABAergic plant *'' Chaenomeles speciosa'', also contains a constituent that acts as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor

References

External links

* * *
''Scutellaria'' images.
MorphBank. {{Taxonbar, from=Q156764 Lamiaceae genera Medicinal plants Anxiolytics Dopamine reuptake inhibitors GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus