Scutellaria costaricana

Scutellaria costaricana

Scutellaria costaricana is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Costa Rica, hence the name, and is also found in other parts of Central America.

Description

Scutellaria costaricana is a perennial herb that grows up to 1 meter tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, and the flowers are blue to purple. The plant is known for its distinctive calyx, which has a shield-like appearance, hence the genus name 'Scutellaria', derived from the Latin word 'scutella', meaning 'a small shield'.

Habitat and Distribution

This species is found in the highlands of Costa Rica, particularly in the Cordillera de Talamanca. It grows in moist, well-drained soils in forested areas, often on slopes. It is also found in parts of Panama and Nicaragua.

Uses

While not widely used in traditional medicine, some local communities in Costa Rica use Scutellaria costaricana for its purported medicinal properties. It is also occasionally grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive flowers.

Conservation Status

The conservation status of Scutellaria costaricana is not well-documented, but like many plants in the region, it may be threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation.

See Also

• List of Scutellaria species
• Flora of Costa Rica

References

• Flora of Costa Rica. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_Costa_Rica
• Scutellaria. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutellaria

External Links

• Scutellaria costaricana at Tropicos
• Scutellaria costaricana at The Plant List