Pycnanthemum californicum

Pycnanthemum californicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Pycnanthemum
Species:	P. californicum
Binomial name
Pycnanthemum californicum Torr. ex Durand

Pycnanthemum californicum is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Sierra mint, Mountain mint,, and California mint.

Distribution

The plant is endemic to California, where it is native to the Sierra Nevada, Peninsular Ranges, Eastern Transverse Ranges, and Inner Northern California Coast Ranges.

It grows at elevations of 500–1,900 metres (1,600–6,200 ft), in chaparral, California oak woodland, California mixed evergreen forest, and Yellow pine forest habitats.

Description

Pycnanthemum californicum is a perennial herb growing erect 0.5–1 metre (1.6–3.3 ft) in height. It has hairless to fuzzy, aromatic herbage. The oppositely arranged leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval, each a few centimeters long.

The inflorescences are located in clusters about the stem just above each upper pair of leaves. Each flower has a whitish upper lip and a purplish lower lip, sometimes with spots. The bloom period is June through September.

See also

• Endemic flora of California

External links

• Calflora Database: Pycnanthemum californicum (Mountain mint, Sierra mint, California mint)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Pycnanthemum californicum
• USDA Plants Profile for Pycnanthemum californicum (Sierra mint)]
• UC Photos gallery of Pycnanthemum californicum (Sierra mint, Mountain mint)