Ground pine
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), also known as creeping charlie, alehoof, field balm, and run-away-robin, is a perennial plant in the Lamiaceae family. It is native to Europe and Asia, but has been introduced to North America and is considered an invasive species in some areas.
Description[edit | edit source]
Ground ivy is a creeping, rhizomatous plant with square stems that root at the nodes. The leaves are kidney-shaped with scalloped edges, and the flowers are small, tubular, and purple-blue in color. The plant has a strong, distinctive smell when crushed.
Habitat and Distribution[edit | edit source]
Ground ivy prefers moist, shaded areas, but can tolerate a variety of conditions. It is often found in woodlands, hedgerows, and along riverbanks, as well as in gardens and lawns. In North America, it is most common in the Midwest and Northeast.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Historically, ground ivy has been used for medicinal purposes, including as a treatment for bronchitis, tinnitus, and kidney disease. It has also been used as a culinary herb, particularly in the brewing of beer, hence one of its common names, "alehoof". However, it is considered toxic to livestock and should not be consumed in large quantities.
Control[edit | edit source]
Controlling ground ivy can be challenging due to its aggressive growth and ability to regenerate from small pieces of root. Methods include hand-pulling, mowing, and the use of herbicides. However, these methods may not be fully effective and may need to be repeated over time.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This invasive species related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD