''Stachys'' is a genus of plants, one of the largest 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 ...

.Harley, R. M., et al. 2004. "Labiatae". pages 167–275. In: Kubitzki, K. (editor) and J. W. Kadereit (volume editor). ''The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants'' volume VII. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg, Germany. Estimates of the number of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

vary from about 300, to about 450.Mabberley, D. J. 2008. ''Mabberley's Plant-Book'' third edition (2008). Cambridge University Press: UK. ''Stachys'' is in the subfamily Lamioideae and its

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specim ...

is '' Stachys sylvatica''.''Stachys'' In: Index Nominum Genericorum. In: Regnum Vegetabile (see ''External links'' below). The precise extent of the genus and its relationship to other genera in the subfamily are poorly known.

Range and naming

The

distribution Distribution may refer to: Mathematics * Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations *Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a vari ...

of the genus covers

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologic ...

and

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...

Common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s include hedgenettle, heal-all, self-heal, woundwort, betony, and lamb's ears. Wood betony, ''S. officinalis'', was the most important medicinal herb to the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons happened wit ...

s of early

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

England. ''Stachys'' was named by Linnaeus in ''

Species Plantarum ' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...

'' in 1753.Carolus Linnaeus. 1753. ''Species Plantarum'' 2:580. Laurentii Salvii. (see ''External Links'' below). The

name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A persona ...

derived Derive may refer to: *Derive (computer algebra system), a commercial system made by Texas Instruments * ''Dérive'' (magazine), an Austrian science magazine on urbanism *Dérive, a psychogeographical concept See also * *Derivation (disambiguation ...

from the Greek word σταχυς (''stachys''), meaning "an ear of grain",Umberto Quattrocchi. 2000. ''CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names'' volume I, page 91. CRC Press: Boca Raton; New York; Washington, DC;, USA. London, UK. (set). (see ''External links'' below). and refers to the fact that the

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are forme ...

is often a spike. The name woundwort derives from the past use of certain species in

herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedie ...

for the treatment of wounds.

Human uses

The

Chinese artichoke ''Stachys affinis'', commonly called crosne, Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke, knotroot, or artichoke betony, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Lamiaceae, originating from China. Its rhizome is a root vegetable that can be eaten ...

or Crosne ('' S. affinis''), is grown for its edible

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals. Woolly betony ('' S. byzantina'') is a popular decorative garden plant.

Use by other species

''Stachys'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described speci ...

species, including the

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

s '' Coleophora auricella'', '' C. lineolea'', and '' C. wockeella'', all recorded on ''S. officinalis''. They are also widely used by the European wool carder bee (''Anthidium manicatum''), which scrape the hairs from the plant in order to use them for building their nests.

Description

''Stachys'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from tree ...

s and annual or

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

herbs In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicina ...

. The stems vary from tall, with

simple Simple or SIMPLE may refer to: *Simplicity, the state or quality of being simple Arts and entertainment * ''Simple'' (album), by Andy Yorke, 2008, and its title track * "Simple" (Florida Georgia Line song), 2018 * "Simple", a song by Johnn ...

, opposite, triangular

leaves 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 ...

, long with serrate margins. In most species, the leaves are softly hairy. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanis ...

s are long, clustered 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, ste ...

of the leaves on the upper part of the stem. The corolla is 5-lobed with the top lobe forming a 'hood', varying from white to pink, purple, red or pale yellow.

Circumscription

The distinction between ''Stachys'' and other genera is unclear and has varied from one author to another. In 2002, a

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study Study or studies may refer to: General * Education ** Higher education * Clinical trial * Experiment * Observational study * Research * Study skills, abilities and approaches applied to learning Other * Study (art), a drawing or series of ...

showed that '' Stachys officinalis'' is not closely related to the rest of the genus.Lindqvist, C. and V. A. Albert. 2002
Origin of the Hawaiian endemic mints within North American ''Stachys'' (Lamiaceae).
''American Journal of Botany'' 89(10), 1709–24. This study also found six other genera to be embedded within ''Stachys'' as it is currently circumscribed. The embedded genera are ''Prasium'', ''Phlomidoschema'', ''

Sideritis ''Sideritis'', also known as ironwort, mountain tea, and shepherd's tea, is a genus of flowering plants known for their use as herbal medicine, commonly as an herbal tea. They are abundant in Mediterranean regions, the Balkans, the Iberian Penin ...

'', ''Haplostachys'', '' Phyllostegia'', and ''Stenogyne''.

Fossil record

†'' Stachys pliocenica'' fossil seeds are known from Upper

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

strata of Bulgaria and

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Stachys cretica''.

Diversity

Selected species include: Stachys tenuifolia var

Stachys alpina fontaine-des-carmes 55 080602 1

*''

Stachys affinis ''Stachys affinis'', commonly called crosne, Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke, knotroot, or artichoke betony, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Lamiaceae, originating from China. Its rhizome is a root vegetable that can be eate ...

'' Bunge – Chinese artichoke *'' Stachys ajugoides''

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

– bugle hedgenettle *'' Stachys alabamica'' B.R.Keener & L.J.Davenp. – Alabama hedgenettle *'' Stachys albens'' A.Gray – white hedgenettle, whitestem hedgenettle *'' Stachys albicaulis'' Lindl. *'' Stachys alpina'' L. – alpine woundwort *'' Stachys annua'' (L.) L. – annual woundwort *''

Stachys arvensis ''Stachys arvensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names field woundwort and staggerweed. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. It is known on other continents as an introduced species a ...

'' L. – staggerweed, field woundwort Stachys byzantina flowers

*'' Stachys bullata'' Benth. *'' Stachys byzantina'' K.Koch – woolly betony, lamb's ear *'' Stachys candida'' Bory & Chaub. *'' Stachys chamissonis'' Benth. – great hedge nettle, coastal hedge nettle *''Stachys chamissonis'' var. ''cooleyae'' (A.Heller) G.A.Mulligan & D.B.Munro – Cooley's hedge nettle *'' Stachys chrysantha'' Boiss. & Heldr. *'' Stachys citrina'' Benth. *'' Stachys clingmanii'' Small – Clingman's hedge nettle *'' Stachys coccinea'' Ortega Stachys cooleyae 3949

*'' Stachys corsica'' Pers. *'' Stachys cretica'' L. *'' Stachys debilis'' Kunth *'' Stachys ehrenbergii'' Boiss. *'' Stachys floridana'' Benth. – Florida hedgenettle, Florida betony *'' Stachys germanica'' L. – downy woundwort *'' Stachys glutinosa'' L. *'' Stachys hispida'' Pursh – rough hedge-nettle *'' Stachys hyssopifolia'' Michx. *'' Stachys iva'' Griseb. *'' Stachys lavandulifolia'' Vahl *'' Stachys libanotica'' Benth. *'' Stachys manantlanensis'' B.L.Turner *'' Stachys mexicana'' Benth. – Mexican hedge nettle *'' Stachys milanii'' Magnier Stachys palustris 2005

*'' Stachys nelsonii'' B.R.Keener & L.J.Davenp. – Nelson's hedgenettle *'' Stachys palustris'' L. – marsh woundwort, marsh hedge-nettle *'' Stachys pumila'' Banks & Sol. *'' Stachys pycnantha'' Benth. *'' Stachys recta'' L. – yellow woundwort *'' Stachys riederi'' Cham. *'' Stachys rigida'' Benth. – rough hedgenettle Stachys sylvatica - mets-nõianõges

*'' Stachys sprucei'' Briq. *'' Stachys stricta'' Greene *'' Stachys sylvatica'' L. – hedge woundwort *'' Stachys tenuifolia'' Willd. – smooth hedgenettle

Formerly placed here

*'' Agastache foeniculum'' (Pursh) Kuntze (as ''S. foeniculum'' Pursh) *'' Leonurus japonicus'' Houtt. (as ''S. artemisia'' Lour.) *'' Stachys monieri'' (Gouan) P.W.Ball, now in the synonymy of ''

Betonica officinalis ''Betonica officinalis'' ( syn. ''Stachys officinalis''), commonly known as common hedgenettle, betony, purple betony, wood betony, bishopwort, or bishop's wort, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, wes ...

'' *'' Betonica macrantha'' K.Koch (as ''S. macrantha'' (K.Koch) Stearn) *''

'' L. (as ''S. officinalis'' (L.) Trevis.)