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Melittis melissophyllum
It is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Melittis of the Lamiaceae family. The name melittis of the genus derives from a Greek words Melissa or Melitta, meaning "honey bee" and refers to the properties of flowers of attracting these insects. The name melissophyllum of the species simply means "with leaves similar to melissa". Melittis melissophyllum reaches on average 30–50 cm of height, with a minimum of 20 cm and a maximum of 60 cm. It is a strongly aromatic plant with erect hairy stems. The flowers are labiate, arranged in pairs and are one-sided (all flowers "look" at the same side). They are usually white or pale pink with a large pinkish purple blotch on the lower lip. They are mainly pollinated by bees and moths. The flowering period extends from May through August.
Spotted on May 6, 2013
Submitted on May 6, 2013
