Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin scutella, meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria parvula var. missouriensis. Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. or "little dish", referring to the shape of the calyx. The common name alludes to the resemblance of the same structure to "miniature medieval helmets". The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution,Ulloa, C. U. and P. M. Jørgensen. Scutellaria. Árboles y arbustos de los Andes del Ecuador. eFloras. with species occurring nearly worldwide, mainly in temperate regions.Scutellaria. The Jepson eFlora 2013.

Description Most Scutellaria are annual or perennial herbaceous plants from tall, however a few are subshrubs. Some Scutellaria are aquatic. Scutellaria have four-angled stems and opposite leaves, and flowers with upper and lower lips. The genus is most easily recognized by the typical shield on the calyx that has also prompted its common name.

Traditional use Skullcaps are used in traditional medicine, such as in traditional Chinese medicine. The root of Scutellaria baicalensis a common component of many preparations is marketed in volumes that have led to the overexploitation of the wild plant. Its rarity has led to an increase in price, and encouraged the adulteration of the product with other species of Scutellaria.

In 1773, Scutellaria lateriflora became a common treatment in North America for the hysteria and hydrophobia caused by rabies.Scutellaria lateriflora. Southern Cross Plant Science. Southern Cross University. Today it is still a popular medicinal herb. It is widely available as a commercial product used in western herbalism. The plant reportedly commands prices of $16 to $64 per pound dry weight.Janke, R. A Grower's Guide: Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). MF-2628. Cooperative Extension, Kansas State University. 2004.

Constituents The main compounds in skullcap are flavonoids. Isolated chemical compounds include wogonin, wogonoside, and 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxyl flavanone found in Scutellaria. Other constituents include baicalin, apigenin, oroxylin A, and scutellarein.

Selected species

Estimates of the number of species in the genus range from around 300 to about 350Scutellaria. Flora of China. or 360 to 470.Scutellaria, list of taxa. Flora of China.Scutellaria, list of taxa. Flora of Pakistan.

Selected species include:

Scutellaria alabamensis – Alabama skullcap Scutellaria albida Scutellaria alborosea Lem. Scutellaria alpina L. – alpine skullcap Scutellaria altamaha – pineland skullcap Scutellaria altissima L. – Somerset skullcap, tall skullcap Scutellaria amoena Scutellaria anatolica Scutellaria angustifolia – narrowleaf skullcap Scutellaria antirrhinoides Benth. – nose skullcap Scutellaria arenicola – Florida scrub skullcap Scutellaria arguta – Blue Ridge skullcap Scutellaria atriplicifolia Scutellaria aurata Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi – Baikal skullcap, Chinese skullcap Scutellaria barbata D.Don – barbed skullcap Scutellaria bolanderi A.Gray – Sierra skullcap Scutellaria brachyspica Scutellaria brittonii – Britton's skullcap Scutellaria bushii – Bush's skullcap Scutellaria caerulea – blue skullcap Scutellaria californica A.Gray – California skullcap Scutellaria cardiophylla – gulf skullcap Scutellaria columnae Scutellaria costaricana H.Wendl. – scarlet skullcap, Costa Rican skullcap Scutellaria drummondii – Drummond's skullcap Scutellaria elliptica Muhl. – hairy skullcap Scutellaria floridana Chapm. – Florida skullcap Scutellaria formosana Scutellaria galericulata L. – common skullcap, marsh skullcap Scutellaria glabriuscula – Georgia skullcap Scutellaria hastifolia – spear-leaved skullcap Scutellaria havanensis – Havana skullcap Scutellaria hirta Scutellaria hookeri Scutellaria humilis Scutellaria incana Biehler – downy skullcap, hoary skullcap Scutellaria incarnata Vent. Scutellaria indica L. Scutellaria integrifolia L. – helmet flower Scutellaria laevis – Culberson County skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora L. – blue skullcap, Virginian skullcap Scutellaria longifolia Benth. Scutellaria longituba Scutellaria meehanioides Scutellaria mexicana Scutellaria microphylla – littleleaf skullcap Scutellaria minor Huds. – lesser skullcap Scutellaria montana Chapm. – mountain skullcap, large-flowered skullcap Scutellaria multiglandulosa – Small's skullcap Scutellaria muriculata – Rio Grande skullcap Scutellaria nana A.Gray – dwarf skullcap Scutellaria nervosa – veiny skullcap Scutellaria novae-zelandaie Scutellaria ocmulgee – Ocmulgee skullcap Scutellaria orientalis Scutellaria ovata Hill – heart-leaved skullcap Scutellaria parvula Michx. – small skullcap Scutellaria pekinensis Scutellaria potosina – Mexican skullcap Scutellaria pseudoserrata – falseteeth skullcap Scutellaria purpurascens Scutellaria racemosa – South American skullcap Scutellaria rehderiana Scutellaria resinosa Torr. – sticky skullcap Scutellaria rubicunda Scutellaria sapphirina – White Pine skullcap Scutellaria sarmentosa Scutellaria saxatilis – smooth rock skullcap Scutellaria serboana Scutellaria serrata – showy skullcap Scutellaria siphocampyloides – grayleaf skullcap Scutellaria splendens Scutellaria strigillosa Scutellaria suffrutescens Scutellaria texana – Texas skullcap Scutellaria thieretii – Thieret's skullcap Scutellaria tuberosa Benth. – Danny's skullcap Scutellaria utriculata Scutellaria valdiviana Scutellaria ventenatii Scutellaria violacea Scutellaria viscidula Scutellaria wrightii – Wright's skullcap

See also Piper methysticum Valeriana officinalis (valerian) Chaenomeles speciosa

References

External links

Scutellaria images. MorphBank.