Glechoma hederacea (Ground-ivy)

Glechoma hederacea L.

Ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, run-away-robin

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Lamiaceae	Mint family
Genus	Glechoma	From the Greek glechon, an old name for a kind of mint, possibly the pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium
Species	hederacea	“Of or pertaining to ivy”

About plant names...

Ground-ivy is not a North American native, but after its introduction from Europe and southwestern Asia, it has become widespread. It is a member of the mint family.

Identification: Ground-ivy has round or kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, ⅜-1¼" (9.5-31 mm) in diameter, attached in opposing pairs to a stem that is roughly square in cross-section. Often only 3" (7.6 cm) tall, it sometimes reaches 12" (30 cm). Flowers are blue, purple, or lavender, occurring in groups of 3. The flower shape is unusual. A small upper petal is divided into two lobes. A larger lower petal has a lobe on either side, and a large bottom lobe that is divided into two more lobes. Each flower is ⅜-½" (9.5-12 mm) across. These plants commonly appear in lawns, and have a strong scent when crushed.

5/12/2007 · Pepperell, Massachusetts

3/20/2012 · Gunpowder Falls State Park, Phoenix Rd, Phoenix, Maryland
≈ 4 × 3½" (11 × 9.3 cm)

Some similar species:

	*Ajuga reptans*	You are here Glechoma hederacea	*Lamium purpureum*
Common Name	bugle	ground-ivy	purple dead-nettle
Plant	Forms loose mats. Plants are 6-9" (15-22 cm) in height.	Often only 3" (7.6 cm) tall, it sometimes reaches 12" (30 cm). Extends horizontally, hence the term “ivy.”	4-16" (10-40 cm) high, and somewhat hairy.
Flowers	Blue, appearing from May to Jun.	Flowers are blue, purple, or lavender, occurring in groups of 3. The flower shape is unusual. A small upper petal is divided into two lobes. A larger lower petal has a lobe on either side, and a large bottom lobe that is divided into two more lobes. Each flower is ⅜-½" (9.5-12 mm) across.	Flowers are ¼-¾" (6.3-19 mm), appearing from Mar to Oct. They are pink to red to purple in color.
Leaves	Dark green with purple highlights, opposite, and simple, sometimes toothed.	Round or kidney-shaped, with scalloped edges, ⅜-1¼" (9.5-31 mm) in diameter.	Toothed, round or kidney-shaped, deeply and irregularly veined, and ¼-1¼" (6.3-31 mm). Each stem node has two opposite leaves, and each succeeded pair is rotated 90° from the last. Upper, younger leaves often have a red-violet tinge.
Stem		Square in cross-section.	Stems are 4-angled and glabrous.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-10
Habitats	Damp grassy fields, damp woods.	Moist ground, woods, slopes, roadsides, waste places, lawns	Fields, weedy places, gardens.
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Common	Common	Common

	*Prunella vulgaris*
Common Name	common selfheal
Plant	1¾-16" (5-40 cm) high, usually toward the small end of this. It is often found in lawns.
Flowers	On spikes at the top. They look uneven and disheveled because they don’t bloom all at once. Each flower is about ⅜" (1 cm) around, purple on top and white below, and bilaterally symmetrical.
Leaves	Up to 2" (6 cm) × ¾" (2 cm), oval or sometimes lance-shaped, on fairly long petioles (leaf stems).
Stem	Approximately square in cross section, green or reddish, and lightly to densely hairy.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Fields, roadsides, weedy area, open woods
Type	Wild
Occurrence	Common