Wild Pennyroyal

Piloblephis rigida (W. Bartram ex Benth.) Raf.

pile-oh-BLEPH-is RIDGE-ah-dah

Lamiaceae

Explanation of name: Generic name from Greek, pilos, felt, and probably blepharis, eyelash (used botanically to refer to cilia). Rigida is self-explanatory.

Natural range: Georgia, Florida. Flatwoods, sandhills, scrub (WU1)

Recognition: Mat- or clump-forming, sprawling mint with small linear heavily pubescent, fragrant, densely arranged needlelike leaves. The small bilabiate lavender flowers are purple-spotted.

Landscape uses: Butterfly gardens, groundcover in dry areas.