The Nettle-leaved Giant Hyssop looks
much like a nettle or mint, but grows in dry, open places
It grows from 0.6 to 1.2 m (2 to 4') high and has coarsely toothed,
alternating, opposite pairs of leaves to 7.5 cm (3") long and
2-8 cm wide. There is a good deal of variation in size of leaves
and flowers. Dense flowerheads may overall be white, pink or purplish;
to 2.5 cm (1") thick and 10 cm (4") long. Each long, thin
'trumpet' flower, which is about 2 cm (3/4") long, has a notched
upper lip and a 3-lobed lower one. 5 narrow sepals, often tinged
with pink. Stamens protrude.
It is a fibrous-rooted perennial from a branching, woody caudex
.
Distribution
Map
Red dots indicate specimen records or confirmed breeding sites.
British Columbia
In southern British Columbia, the Nettle-leaved Giant Hyssop is
found in the Thompson Plateau, Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains
(Okanagan Falls, Mt. Kobau, Greenwood and Rossland, Cascade, Osoyoos
area).
North America
It is found is the eastern part of Washington in Spokane, Whitman,
Columbia and Walla Walla counties Not known to extend west of Grand
Coulee Dam. In Oregon however, it sometimes reaches the east foot
of the Cascades. Also found in California, Montana and Colorado.
Habitat
The Nettle-leaved Giant Hyssop occurs in
grass balds of dry open slopes in the steppe vegetation and open
forests on montane slopes.
Why is it endangered?
This species along with others of the grasslands communities are
endangered for a number of reasons. Livestock grazing, range re-seeding
and off-road recreation have modified much of the remaining "undeveloped"
grassland areas. In addition, cultivation, agricultural and urban
development, prescribed burning, forest encroachment, road and trail
development, alien plant and animal species introductions, and hydro-electric
power projects have caused outright, irreversible losses of native
grassland species in general.
Because grasslands have been so influenced by human activities,
a relatively large number of wildlife species associated with grasslands
(including this plant species) are listed as threatened or endangered.
Because of these combined influences and the relatively limited
distribution of grasslands, "ancient" grasslands represent
a much more endangered space in British Columbia than do "ancient"
or old-growth forests.
Biology
It blooms in late April.
Sources for more
information
Related On-line Sites to Visit
Publications
The Vascular Plants of BC, MOF, pt2, 1990, p. 64
The SOCAP Workshop Summary, The Nature Trust, 1989.
Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in British Columbia and Washington,
Lyons and Merilees, 1995
Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock et al, 1971,
p. 250
Museum Specimens
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