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A perennial herb of the mint family, the rare large-flowered skullcap grows only in scattered sites in Tennessee and Georgia. The plant stands 12 to 22 inches tall on solitary, erect stems and bears hairy leaves 2 to 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. It blossoms with lovely blue and white flowers in May and early June. Its fruit, a light brown nutlet, matures in late June and early July. Pollination is performed almost exclusively by bees. Large-flowered skullcaps are easily recognized by their namesake, the protruding �cap� on the upper lobe of the calyx.
One reason that the herb is so rare is that the mature, undisturbed hardwood stands in which is grows are also rare in its range. When it was listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1986, less than 7,000 plants in 10 sites were known to exist. Additional populations have since been discovered, totaling over 50,000 individuals in 48 known sites. Reflecting these discoveries, the large-flowered skullcap was reclassified as Threatened in 2002. Although the Conservancy protects some populations, such as the ones at Black�s Bluff and Marshall Forest, habitat loss remains a threat, as does competition with invasive species like Japanese honeysuckle and privet.
Nature picture credits (left to right): Marshall Forest Preserve © Nate Thomas; Large-flowering skullcap © B. Eugene Wofford
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