Yellow Woundwort Stachys recta




Scientific Name: Stachys recta (Lamiaceae). Stachys = 'ear of cereal', recta = 'straight'.

English Name: Yellow Woundwort, Perennial Yellow Woundwort, Stiff Hedgenettle (Dead-nettle family).

French Name: Epiare droite (='straight spike').


5 Key Characters:
  • multiple stiff upright stems 20 - 60 cm.
  • toothed lanceolate leaves on a very short stem.
  • yellowy white flowers sit just above pairs of leaves in 3 - 6 wreaths up the stems. 
  • found on calcareous slopes.
  • plant is hairy or fuzzy on stems, leaves and calyxes.

Lookalikes: Annual Woundwort S. annua, which is not nearly as hairy and has stems which divide (ramify).

Habitat: Dry grassy or rocky calcareous hillsides.


Flowering Period: June-July-August-September.


Status: Uncommon and localised in the Touraine.


Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

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