Common Selfheal -or- Aleutian selfheal -or- Lance selfheal -or- Heart-of-the-Earth -or- Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris), family Lamiaceae (Mint)
Considered imperiled in the state of Wyoming, vulgaris is nevertheless found in every state of the U.S. There are 3 varieties of vulgaris: var. aleutica, var. lanceolata, and var. vulgaris. We know not if our specimen is one of these varieties.
USES: There are many many uses of this species both for food, and medicine. Infusion of leaves for fevers, sore neck, wash a burst boil. Weak decoction of roots, leaves and blossoms taken for the heart. Infusion of plant used as an eyewash to keep the eyes moist on cold or windy days. Eyewash for horses. Used to flavor other medicine. Wash for burns, used cold. Leaves cooked and eaten as greens. Treat sore throat. There are many more medicinal uses as well.
Per the website Plants For A Future:
Self heal has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, sores etc. It was also taken internally as a tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea, sore mouth, internal bleeding etc. In Korea it is used to treat oedema, nephritis, scrofula and goitre. The whole plant is alterative, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas, Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc. It can be used fresh or dried, for drying it is best harvested in mid-summer. The plant is experimentally antibiotic and hypotensive.
Flower
Plant location: Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017
Elevation was 1800'. This species is found in almost every state of the U.S. See the BONAP distribution map, here. Plant
Bloom season: May through September.
Habitats include waste ground, grassland, woodland edges etc, usually on basic and neutral soils.Foliage
Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017
Macro of bud.
Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017
Different bud view
Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017
The species vulgaris flowers are bisexual - they have male and female parts in the same flower.
Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017
Anterior lip of the perianth, below, and banner (or hood) of the upper area of flower.
Split Creek Trail - Hwy 12 - Idaho - June 21, 2017