''Scutellaria minor'', the lesser skullcap, 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 parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...

Description

''Scutellaria minor'' grows to tall, with narrowly ovate leaves arranged oppositely. Flowers are borne in the

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

of the upper leaves; they have a pinkish purple

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

, long.

Distribution and habitat

''Scutellaria minor'' has a southern temperate distribution in Europe. It grows in wet heaths and open woodland on acidic soils. In the British Isles, it is restricted to southern and western areas, extending as far north as the

Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coast ...

Taxonomy

''Scutellaria minor'' was first described in 1762 by William Hudson in his ''

Flora Anglica William Hudson FRS (1730 in Kendal – 23 May 1793) was a British botanist and apothecary based in London. His main work was ''Flora Anglica'', published in 1762. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1761. Life and work Hudson was ...

''. Hybrids with '' S. galericulata'', known as ''Scutellaria × hybrida'', sometimes occur where both parent species co-occur.

References

External links

*
Distribution of ''S. minor'' in the British Isles
Botanical Society of the British Isles
''Scutellaria minor''
West Highland Flora {{Taxonbar, from=Q159417

minor Minor may refer to: * Minor (law), a person under the age of certain legal activities. ** A person who has not reached the age of majority * Academic minor, a secondary field of study in undergraduate education Music theory *Minor chord ** Barb ...

Flora of Europe Plants described in 1762 Taxa named by William Hudson (botanist)