About Scutellaria siphocampyloides Vatke
Scutellaria siphocampyloides is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, commonly called grayleaf skullcap. It is endemic to California, widespread across the state's mountain and coastal regions, and does not grow in California's deserts or Central Valley. It grows in forest, woodland, and a range of open habitat types. This is a perennial herb that grows one or more erect stems reaching around half a meter in height, sprouting from a network of thin rhizomes. Stems are covered in short, flattened hairs that sometimes contain resin glands. Its oval leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem, with the lowest leaves growing on short petioles. Flowers grow from the leaf axils. Each flower sits in a calyx made of sepals, which has a large ridge or appendage on its upper section. The tubular flower corolla can be up to 3.5 centimeters long, and has distinct large upper and lower lips. The upper lip folds into a beak-like protrusion, while the lower lip has three wide lobes. The corolla ranges in color from pale lavender to deep purple, and sometimes has white mottling on the lower lip.
