Teucrium

Germanders
Tree Germander (Teucrium fruticans)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Ajugoideae[1]
Genus: Teucrium
L. (1753)
Type species
Teucrium fruticans
L.
Synonyms[2]
  • Chamaedrys Mill.
  • Polium Mill.
  • Scordium Mill.
  • Scorodonia Hill
  • Iva Fabr. 1759 not L. 1753
  • Melosmon Raf.
  • Monipsis Raf.
  • Scorbion Raf.
  • Trixago Raf.
  • Poliodendron Webb & Berthel.
  • Monochilon Dulac
  • Botrys Fourr.
  • Kinostemon Kudô

Teucrium is a genus of perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae. The name is believed to refer to King Teucer of Troy.[3] Members of the genus are commonly known as germanders.[4] There are hundreds of species, including herbs, shrubs or subshrubs. They are found all over the world but are most common in Mediterranean climates.[2][5][6][7]

An unusual feature of this genus compared with other members of Lamiaceae is that the flowers completely lack the upper lip of the corolla, although it is somewhat reduced also in other genera (Ajuga among them).

Several species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Coleophora case-bearers Coleophora auricella and Coleophora chamaedriella. The latter is only known from Wall Germander (T. chamaedrys).

Teucrium species are rich in essential oils. They are valued as ornamental plants and a pollen source, and some species have culinary and/or medical value.

Selected species

Teucrium capitatum
Mountain germander
  • Teucrium grandiusculum
  • Teucrium heterophyllum
  • Teucrium japonicum
  • Teucrium laciniatum – Lacy germander
  • Teucrium lepicephalum Pau
  • Teucrium marum L. – Cat thyme
  • Teucrium massiliense L.
  • Teucrium montanum L.
  • Teucrium orientale L. – Oriental germander
  • Teucrium polium L. – Felty germander
  • Teucrium pseudochamaepitys L.
  • Teucrium puechiae Greuter & Burdet
  • Teucrium pyrenaicum
  • Teucrium racemosum – Grey germander, forest germander
  • Teucrium scordium L. – Water germander
  • Teucrium scorodonia L. – Woodland germander
  • Teucrium socotranum Vierh.
  • Teucrium subspinosum Pourr. ex Willd.
  • Teucrium townsendii
    • Teucrium townsendii ssp. affine
    • Teucrium townsendii var. townsendii
  • Teucrium vesicarium Mill.
  • Teucrium viscidum Blume
  • Teucrium werneri – Jbel Kest germander[8][9]

Formerly placed here

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Genus: Teucrium L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ↑ Grieve, Maude (1971). A Modern Herbal. Courier Dover Publications. p. 351. ISBN 978-0-486-22798-6.
  4. ↑ "Teucrium". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Flora of China Vol. 17 Page 56 香科科属 xiang ke ke shu Teucrium Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 562. 1753.
  6. ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Teucrium includes photos plus range maps for Europe + North America
  7. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps
  8. ↑ "Teucrium". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  9. 1 2 "GRIN Species Records of Teucrium". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
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Wikisource has the text of the 1906 New International Encyclopedia article Germander.


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