Ground ivy: Glechoma hederacea

Common name: Ground ivy
Genus/species: Glechoma hederacea

Description: creeping plant with roundish, scalloped leaves
Purplish to pink white flowers in whorls of of leaf axils

Medicinal and other uses: extracts are anti-inflammatory and reduce edema
Ursolic acid tested for anticancer properties: leukemia and lung carcinoma
traditional tonic is used for gastritis, kidney stones, cystitis, and tinnitus.
Toxic to animals including humans: swelling of throat and breathing problems

Blooming: March - July
Alien species
Found in fields, lawns, roadsides: common throughout

Photos: E. Iglich eiglich@mcdaniel.edu