Bayshore/ American Germander

COMMON NAME: American Germander

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Wood Sage, Betony, Groundpine, Germandree du Canada

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Teucrium canadense 

FAMILY: Lamiaceae

COMMUNITY: Bayshore

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: to 3 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Late June to late August

FRUITING TIME: September and October

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout Mid and Eastern United States and southern Canada ~ Statewide in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Stem solitary, stiff, square in cross section, hairy ~ Leaves toothed, lance-ovate, opposite, hairy, velvetlike underneath ~ Flower purple, blue or white, grouped on a stalk with younger flowers nearest the apex, wand-like ~ Faint sage odor when crushed ~ Rhizomes ~ Fruit small nut

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family of plants (Lamiaceae), commonly called the mint family, has 221 genera and 5.600 species of herbs, shrubs and a few trees.  It is a preeminent family of culinary and medical herbs including lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, mint, balm, marjoram, savory and basil. The genus Teucrium means “of Teucer” the first king of Troy and the species canadense means “of Canada”. Other species within this family have long been used as flavoring agents or for medicinal purposes and are commonly cultivated.  In the 1st century AD, Dioscorides noted that the leaves of Teucrium chamaedrys were eaten to stave off plague and that the plant was used to relieve coughs and asthma.  More recently, an infusion (hot but not boiling water poured over leaves) was used to treat gout, rheumatism, stomach problems, fever and congestion. American Germander is limited in this regard.  However, American Germander was an ancient healing herb and Bianchini and Corbetta (1975) wrote Germander “is still prescribed today for healing sores and ulcers”.

            Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.