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Biology

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Bugle is a perennial herb that can spread by seed or, more typically, by means of creeping stems known as 'stolons' or 'runners' (3). It flowers from late April to early July (6). The flowers are pollinated by bees, although self-fertilisation is also possible (2). Bugle was, in the past, a well-known medicinal herb. It was used mainly to treat wounds, and was once widely planted in gardens to provide a ready supply (5).
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Conservation

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Conservation action is not required for this very common species.
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Description

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Bugle is a common herb that often grows in large clumps (4). The flowers are deep purplish blue, rarely pink or white (2), and are arranged on tapering flower stalks. The dark leaves have an unusual colouration, with a purplish-brown or violet sheen on a dark green ground colour (4). An alternative name for this plant, 'thunder and lightning' is thought to refer to the contrast between the shiny highlights and deep background colour of the leaves (5). The common name 'bugle' does not refer to the musical instrument, but is thought to derive from 'bugula', s name used by apothecaries (5), which may in turn be a corruption of the generic Latin name 'Ajuga' (6).
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Habitat

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Found in damp broadleaved woodlands, typically in shaded places, and in damp meadows and pastures (2).
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Range

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This plant is widespread throughout Britain, up to altitudes of 760 meters (3). Elsewhere it is found throughout much of Europe, the Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan), south west Asia, Algeria and Tunisia (2).
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Status

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Common and widespread: not threatened (3).
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Threats

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This species is not threatened.
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Associations

provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
Foodplant / open feeder
gregarious larva of Athalia cordata grazes on leaf (underside) of Ajuga reptans

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Erysiphe biocellata parasitises live Ajuga reptans

Foodplant / feeds on
scattered pycnidium of Phyllosticta coelomycetous anamorph of Phyllosticta ajugae feeds on live leaf of Ajuga reptans
Remarks: season: autumn

Foodplant / spot causer
hypophyllous colony of Ramularia ajugae causes spots on live leaf of Ajuga reptans

Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Tingis reticulata sucks sap of Ajuga reptans

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Derivation of specific name

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
reptans: creeping, referring to the stolons
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Ajuga reptans L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=166140
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Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Perennial herb, 10-30 cm, with long leafy, rooting stolons. Stems simple, usually hairy on 2 opposite sides only. Leaves: basal in a rosette; lamina obovate to oblong-elliptic, entire to obscurely crenate; base attenuate into a broad petiole; apex obtuse; cauline few, ± sessile. Upper bracts tinged purple or blue, shorter than the flowers. Calyx campanulate. Corolla blue, less often pink or white.
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Ajuga reptans L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=166140
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Worldwide distribution

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Throughout most of Europe; also SW Asia and N Africa
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Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Ajuga reptans L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=166140
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Mark Hyde
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Bart Wursten
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Petra Ballings
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Ajuga reptans

provided by wikipedia EN

Ajuga reptans is commonly known as bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle, and traditionally however less commonly as St. Lawrence plant. It is an herbaceous flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe. It is invasive in parts of North America. It is also a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures, a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the United Kingdom.

Ajuga reptans is a dense spreading groundcover with dark green leaves with purple highlights. The leaves grow 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) tall. In spring the plant sends up 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall flower stalks bearing many purple flowers. The flowers are frequently visited by flies, such as Rhingia campestris.[1]

Description

A young plant.

Ajuga reptans is a sprawling perennial herb[2] with erect flowering stems and grows to a height of about 10 to 35 cm (4 to 14 in). The stems are square in cross-section with hairs on two sides. The plant has runners that spread across the surface of the ground. The purplish-green, stalked leaves are in opposite pairs. The leaf blades are hairless and are elliptical or ovate with a rounded tip and shallowly rounded teeth on the margin. The inflorescence forms a dense raceme composed of whorls of blue flowers, each with dark veins on the lower lip. The calyx has five toothed lobes and the corolla forms a two-lipped flower about 14 to 17 mm (0.6 to 0.7 in) long with a short tube. The upper lip of each flower is short and flat with a smooth edge, and the lower lip is three-lobed, the central lobe being the largest, flat with a notched tip. There are four stamens, two long and two short, which are longer than the corolla and are attached to the tube. The ovary is superior and the fruit is a schizocarp with four chambers.[3]

Habitat

Woods and rough pastures.[2]

Distribution

Common in Ireland,[4] and throughout Great Britain.[5]

Pollination

The species is monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same plant. Pollination is by bees or Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies).[6]

Uses

Flower

Grown as a garden plant it provides useful groundcover. Numerous cultivars have been selected, of which 'Catlin's Giant' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7][8]

Bugle is also known as "carpenter's herb" for its supposed ability to stem bleeding.[9]

Bugle is a primary nectar source of the pearl-bordered fritillary and the small pearl-bordered fritillary. It is a secondary nectar source of the brimstone, chequered skipper, common blue, cryptic wood white, dingy skipper, Duke of Burgundy, green-veined white, grizzled skipper, heath fritillary, holly blue, large blue, large skipper, large white, marsh fritillary, orange-tip, painted lady, small white, and wood white butterflies.[10]

Ajuga reptans herb has been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as a tea for the treatment of disorders related to the respiratory tract.[11]

References

  1. ^ Van Der Kooi, C. J.; Pen, I.; Staal, M.; Stavenga, D. G.; Elzenga, J. T. M. (2015). "Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers". Plant Biology. 18 (1): 56–62. doi:10.1111/plb.12328. PMID 25754608.
  2. ^ a b Parnell. J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. ISBN 978-185918-4783
  3. ^ "Blue bugle: Ajuga reptans". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  4. ^ Scannell, M.J.P. and Synnott, D.M. 1972 Dublin. Stationery Office
  5. ^ Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-04656-4
  6. ^ Plants For A Future - Ajuga reptans L
  7. ^ "Ajuga reptans AGM". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. November 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. ^ Howard, Michael (1987). Traditional Folk Remedies Century. p.108
  10. ^ "Nectar Sources". UKButterflies.co.uk. 2002–2014.
  11. ^ Vogl, S; Picker, P; Mihaly-Bison, J; Fakhrudin, N; Atanasov, A. G.; Heiss, E. H.; Wawrosch, C; Reznicek, G; Dirsch, V. M.; Saukel, J; Kopp, B (2013). "Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine--an unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 149 (3): 750–71. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007. PMC 3791396. PMID 23770053.

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Ajuga reptans: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Ajuga reptans is commonly known as bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle, and traditionally however less commonly as St. Lawrence plant. It is an herbaceous flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe. It is invasive in parts of North America. It is also a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures, a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the United Kingdom.

Ajuga reptans is a dense spreading groundcover with dark green leaves with purple highlights. The leaves grow 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) tall. In spring the plant sends up 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall flower stalks bearing many purple flowers. The flowers are frequently visited by flies, such as Rhingia campestris.

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