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Author Topic: Bastard Balm - Melittis melissophyllum  (Read 935 times)
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McDonough
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« on: June 04, 2011, 11:37:47 PM »
About 5 years ago I bought this plant from a nursery in Vermont, Melittis melissophyllum, not having a clue as to what to expect with this unfamiliar item.  It has flowered reliably each year, and I find it a delightful aromatic plant with showy over-sized white mint blooms.  It is a member of the mint family or Lamiaceae. I haven't bothered to learn more about this plant until I googled it today.  Apparently is is a widespread and highly variable European plant, found all the way to Turkey.  My plant appears to be an "alba" form, as most forms have a pink lip, and some are dramatically colored near red, such as in the cultivar Melittis melissophyllum 'Royal Velvet Distinction':
http://www.heronswood.com/product/melittis-melissophyllum-royal-velvet/

Doing a google image search reveals considerable variation... now I want to grow more forms of this plant.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Melittis+melissophyllum&hl=en&biw=1272&bih=801&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=avLqTZupH8zTgQfozazYCQ&ved=0CCoQsAQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melittis_melissophyllum
« Last Edit: June 04, 2011, 11:53:32 PM by McDonough » Logged
Mark McDonough
Massachusetts, USA, near the New Hampshire border USDA Zone 5
antennaria at charter.net
http://www.plantbuzz.com
Lori S.
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« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2011, 11:59:21 PM »
Very attractive, both yours and the bicoloured forms!  Do you collect seed?   Wink
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Lori
Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Zone 3
-30 C to +30 C (rarely!); elevation ~1130m; annual precipitation ~40 cm
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« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2011, 02:32:56 AM »
Wow! Great shot. My (bicoloured) plant has never been quite so floriferous - I should maybe give it some sustainance! Also shown a post-flowering shot of ssp. albida in the Copenhagen botanics. Sometimes used as a flavouring in drinks.


* Melittis_P6170857.jpg (115.1 KB, 640x480 - viewed 37 times.)

* Melittis_albida_P8025232.jpg (97.19 KB, 640x480 - viewed 48 times.)
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Stephen Barstow
Malvik, Norway
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Tim Ingram
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« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2011, 05:56:09 AM »
Its nice to see this plant - it grows in Britain but I've never seen it in its native setting. It has been a lovely plant in the garden, flowering later than its relative Lamium orvala and not self-seeding with such freedom, but showing quite a bit of variation. It is a very popular nursery plant, and it is easy to see why, it has that understated charm about it.
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Dr. Timothy John Ingram
Copton Ash, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8XW, UK
I garden in a relatively hot and dry region (for the UK!), with an annual rainfall of around 25", winter lows of -10°C and summer highs of 30°C.
email: coptonash@yahoo.co.uk
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McDonough
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« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2011, 07:12:19 AM »
Quote from: Skulski on June 04, 2011, 11:59:21 PM
Very attractive, both yours and the bicoloured forms!  Do you collect seed?   Wink

Funny how one likes what one doesn't have, so of course I am desirous of the pink or purple-lipped two-tone forms! Roll Eyes  Although this clean white form is very attractive and shows up well in the garden.  Regarding seed, I never noticed, but this spring I found one seedling in the spot where I used to have this plant, where it sulked in a spot too dry and sunny.  The foliage has a pleasing light aromatic scent.
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Mark McDonough
Massachusetts, USA, near the New Hampshire border USDA Zone 5
antennaria at charter.net
http://www.plantbuzz.com
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« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2011, 09:23:06 AM »
As seen in the Picos de Europa in late May this year ...

Melittis melissophyllum

* Melittis.jpg (165.7 KB, 670x1004 - viewed 28 times.)

* Melittis 2.jpg (192.61 KB, 670x1048 - viewed 28 times.)

* Melittis 3.jpg (199.04 KB, 670x1146 - viewed 22 times.)
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Cliff Booker A.K.A. Ranunculus
On the moors in Lancashire, U.K.
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McDonough
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« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2011, 11:19:38 AM »
Nice to see the rosy-purple lipped form.  Any insight into the common name?
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Mark McDonough
Massachusetts, USA, near the New Hampshire border USDA Zone 5
antennaria at charter.net
http://www.plantbuzz.com
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