Monarda didyma L.

Beebalm

© DETenaglia

Family - Lamiaceae

Stems - To 150cm tall, 4-angled, glabrous below, pubescent above, herbaceous, branching above or simple, fragrant.

Leaves - Opposite, to 15cm long, 5cm broad, serrate, lanceolate to ovate, acute to acuminate, with short petioles or sessile, glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, with spreading hairs below, fragrant.

Inflorescence - Terminal cluster of +/-30 flowers. Cluster subtended by foliaceous red bracts.

Flowers - Corolla scarlet, to 4cm long, bilabiate, pubescent. Lower lip larger than upper and weekly 3-lobed. Stamens 2, exserted. Style exserted. Stigma 2-lobed (unequally so). Calyx tubular, with +/-15 ridges (nerves), 5-lobed. Lobes acute to acuminate.

© DETenaglia

Flowering - June - August.

Habitat - Cultivated, rarely escaped to moist soils.

Origin - Native to northeastern U.S.

Other info. - This is a very striking species of Monarda. Like most of the other deep red flowers, it is very popular with butterfly gardeners. The plant is very fragrant and the leaves can be used to flavor beverages.
Other varieties of the plant have different color flowers ranging from pinkish to purple.

Photographs taken at the Kansas City Zoo, 6-22-00.