Bugle - Ajuga reptans

Scientific Name: Ajuga reptans

English Name: Bugle

French Name: La Bugle rampante

5 Key Characters:

• stems are hairy only on 2 opposite sides.
• upper bracts (leafs in amongst the flowers) are shorter than the flowers.
• lower leaves in basal rosette oval and shiny.
• upper bracts bluish green.
• grows in damp places.
  

Lookalikes: Pyramidal Bugle A. pyramidalis, which grows on dry calcareous sites and is much hairier, with purple upper bracts much longer than the flowers.

Habitat: Damp woods, hedgebanks and meadows.

Flowering Period: April-May-June.

Status: Very common.

Photographed by Loire Valley Nature: