False Dragonhead
Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth.
Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth., known as False Dragonhead or Obedient Plant, is a species in the Lamiaceae family. Native to North America, it is found from eastern Canada to northern Mexico. The plant is notable for its flowers, which can be moved and remain in position when touched, earning it the name 'obedient plant.' The common name 'false dragonhead' reflects its resemblance to the genus Dracocephalum, to which it was once classified.
Description
Physostegia virginiana is a member of the Lamiaceae family, known for its distinctive flowers that can be manipulated and held in place. It is native to North America and has been documented in various regions including the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe and Asia. The plant was first published in 1829. Although a specimen in Herb. Linn. No. 746.1 was cited by Epling in 1929, it was not formally designated as a type. The species has been recorded in multiple countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the United States. Its common names reflect both its behavior and its historical classification.
Other common names
False DragonheadObedienceObedient PlantObedient-PlantVirginia False Dragonhead
Distribution
Belgium · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · IT · NO · DK · Austria · Hungary · Italy · SE · Vermont-US · AU · FR · JP · TW · SK · Alabama · Alberta · Arkansas · British Columbia · Connecticut · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa
Synonyms
Dracocephalum virginianum
