CALAMINTHA ARKANSANA (Nutt.) Shinners

Limestone Savory

 

 

FAMILY:  Labiatae (Lamiaceae)

 

SYNONYMS:   Synonym glabella (Michx.) Briq. var. angustifolia (Torr.) Svenson

                        Satureja arkansana (Nutt.) Briq.

 

HABIT:  Erect, herbaceous, stoloniferous perennial, 1-2 dm.; flowering May-August.

 

SIMILAR SPECIES:  Readily identified by its small flowers with stamens inserted, the numerous, short stolons, and its mat-like growth habit.  This combination is unique among Ohio mints. 

 

TOTAL RANGE:  E. Ont. to MN, so. to w. NY, OH, IN, IL, AS, and TX.

 

STATE RANGE:  There are post-1950 collections from 6 counties of western Ohio: Erie, Fulton, Greene, Miami, Ottawa, and Ross.  There are pre-1950 records from Delaware and Union counties.

 

STATE STATUS:  1980-1987: Potentially Threatened, 1988-1991: Threatened, 1992-1993: Potentially Threatened, 1994 to present: Threatened.

 

HABITAT:  Most commonly occurs on calcareous soils in dry, open areas.  Often found in old limestone quarries, fields, and rock exposures.

 

HAZARDS:  Overshading in later successional stages.

 

RECOVERY POTENTIAL:  Unknown, but probably good due to the tolerance of disturbance of the species. 

 

INVENTORY GUIDELINES:  Collect complete mature flowering material with stolons.   

 

COMMENTS:  This specie is fairly inconspicuous and may be overlooked and therefore undercollected.  It should be sought in appropriate habitats.  It has a somewhat aggressive nature as indicated by its appearance in a variety of situations disturbed by human activity.

 

SELECTED REFERENCES: 

 

Sabo, R.F.  1965.  The Labiatae of Ohio.  M.A. Thesis, Kent State Univ., Kent, Ohio. P. 177, 121.

 

Voss, E.G. 1996. Michigan Flora, Part III. Dicots (Pyrolaceae-Compositae). Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 61, Bloomfield Hills, MI. 622 pp.

 

 

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

 

Created:  4/1981 David P. Emmitt

Database Code:  SPNL.C88