Clinopodium glabellum (Michx.) Kuntze

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Clinopodium glabellum (Michx.) Kuntze is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the mint family. It has three common names: glade calamint, glade savory, and glade wild basil.

Native Distribution

This species is native to the Nashville Basin of Tennessee, the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, and two counties in Alabama.

Habitat Requirements

Across this native range, it only grows in wet cedar glades and seeps along limestone creekbeds.

Conservation Status

Because of its limited distribution and specialized habitat needs, Clinopodium glabellum is classified as a vulnerable species.

Growth and Life Cycle

It is a small perennial plant that often produces flowers in its first year of growth.

Flower Characteristics

Its pale pink flowers bloom in late spring.

Taxonomic Confusion

Clinopodium glabellum has frequently been mistaken for Clinopodium arkansanum, a confusion that has left the confirmed ranges of both species somewhat uncertain. It has sometimes been referred to as "Ozark calamint", but this name is misleading, as populations of plants found in the Ozarks actually belong to Clinopodium arkansanum.