Monarda fistulosa L.
 

by Lauren Harter, Native Plants of Arizona 2007
Common names:  Wild Bergamot (1, 2), Bee Balm, Horse-Mint, Purple Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot Bee Balm (2).
Family:  Lamiaceae (1) (alt. Labiatae) (2)
Synonymy:  Monarda menthifolia (5)
Etymology:  The specific epithet fistulosa refers to the hollow tubular shape of the corolla (4). 

Identification
Growth form:  Single stem, herb or subshrub 5 to 12 dm high (1)
Roots:  
Stem:  Underground rhizomes; aerial stems branched, hairy, square (1)
Leaves:  Opposite, slightly toothed, petioled and lanceolate. Foliage gray-green (1)
Inflorescence/flowers:  Clumped at the ends of branches.  Tubular, lavender, strongly bilabiate corolla;  upper lip narrow and pubescent, lower lip broader (1).
Fruit:  Inconspicuous brown nutlets contain one seed each (1)
Similar species:  There are 17 species in the genus Monarda (1).  Monarda citriodora, another northern Arizona species, has flowers on an interrupted spike with pubescent, often pink bracts (6).  Monarda pectinata can be distinguished by its whitish flowers and glabrous leaves with very short petioles (7). 

Ecology
Life history:  Herbaceous perennial (1)
Native/introduced:  Native (1)
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology:    Blooms between June and September (1)
Distribution:  Prefers upland woods, thickets, and prairies (1) at 1930 to 2300 meters/6300 to 7500 feet elevation (8,9).  In Arizona, found in Coconino, Yavapai, Gila, Navajo, Apache, Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties (1).  Found throughout the contiguous United States excepting California and Florida (1,2).  Widespread in southern Canada.  Found in the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico (2). 

Uses
Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds feed on the nectar (1).  It provides palatable forage for browsing and grazing animals (1).  Commonly used as an ornamental (1,2).  The Tewa Indians cooked it with meat and the Iroquois used the plant to make a beverage (1).  This species also has a number of medicinal uses.  An infusion is used as a cough medicine and a kidney and heart aid.  A solution can be made from the plant to treat sore eyes.  A poultice is used variously for headaches, colds, cuts and burst boils.  The root was chewed for swollen neck glands.  The plant can be used as an analgesic, a diuretic, a diaphoretic, and a sedative (3).

References

1.  USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 21 September 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

2.  USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network – (GRIN) [Online Database].  (http://www.ars-grin.gov, 21 September 2007).  National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.

3.  Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/, 21 September 2007). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA.

4.  Traupman, J.C.  1995.  Latin & English Dictionary.  New York:  Bantam Books.

5.  Integrated Taxonomic Information System (http://www.itis.gov, 25 October 2007).

6.  Haddock, M. 2007.  Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses (http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/, 25 October 2007). 

7.  Charters, M.L.  2007.  Wildflowers and Other Plants of Southern California (http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/index.html, 25 October 2007).

8.  Ramsey, R.D.  Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Utah (http://www.gis.usu.edu/Geography-Department/utgeog/utvatlas/index.html, 25 October 2007).  Utah State University.

9.  Dittmann, L.  2007.  Northern Arizona Flora (http://www.nazflora.org, 25 October 2007).