Rough Hedge-nettle. Summary. Protection Threatened in New York State, not listed federally.

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1 Rough Hedge-nettle Stachys hyssopifolia Scientific Name Family Name Stachys hyssopifolia Michx. Lamiaceae Mint Family Did you know? The genus name is Greek for spike and refers to the spike-like inflorescence (Fernald 1950). Only one population in New York has been found away from a pondshore. Photo credits: Troy Weldy Summary Protection Threatened in New York State, not listed federally. This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 6 to fewer than 20 extant sites, or 2) 1,000 to fewer than 3,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to not less than 4 or more than 7 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or 4) listed as threatened by U.S. Department of Interior. Rarity G4G5, S2 A global rarity rank of G4G5 means: Apparently or Demonstrably Secure globally - Uncommon to common in the world, but not rare; usually widespread, but may be rare in some parts of its range; possibly some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors. More information is needed to assign a single conservation status. A state rarity rank of S2 means: This plant is threatened/imperiled in New York because of rarity (typically 6-20 populations or few remaining individuals) or is vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological factors. Conservation Status in New York There are nine existing populations and some of these Long Island pondshores contain over 150 plants. However, most of the populations are under 50 plants. There are three historical populations from the early 1900s to the 1970s which have not been resurveyed. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rough Hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia)

2 Short-term Trends Short-term trends are unknown because almost all populations have not been resurveyed more than one time. Long-term Trends The long-term trend appears to be stable. This plant has always been very rare in New York and the number of populations has remained about the same over the last 100 years. Conservation and Management Threats Some ponds have seen too much development along the shoreline which threaten populations with direct disturbance by trampling and ATV use. The invasion of Phragmites is also a threat to a few populations. One population will probably be extirpated by succession. Conservation Strategies and Management Practices The pondshores need to be protected from direct disturbance by ATVs and excessive trampling. Exotic invasive species must be prevented from colonizing the shores and any existing populations must be eliminated. A natural buffer of at least 200 feet should be established around the ponds to prevent excessive runoff and pollution events. Research Needs More information is needed about habitat preferences so existing populations may be augmented. Habitat This species grows mainly on coastal plain pondshores but can also be seen in wet sandy disturbed openings and wet areas of sand roads within pine barrens. One population was in a moist sandy area that had been bulldozed for a house foundation (New York Natural Heritage Program 2012). Moist, usually sandy soil near the coast (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Associated Ecological Communities Coastal Plain Pond Shore The gently sloping shore of a coastal plain pond with seasonally and annually fluctuating water levels. Plants growing on the pond shore vary with water levels. In dry years when water levels are low there is often a dense growth of annual sedges, grasses, and herbs. Submerged and floating-leaved aquatic plants, such as fragrant waterlily and pondweeds, may become "stranded" on the exposed shore. In wet years when the water level is high only a few emergents and floating-leaved aquatics may be noticeable. The vegetation of this pond shore community can change dramatically from one year to the next depending on fluctuations in groundwater levels. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rough Hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia) 2

3 Associated Species Canadian Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) Rose Coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea) Straw-colored Flatsedge (Cyperus strigosus) Seven-angle Pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum) Slender Flattop Goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana) Dwarf Umbrella-sedge (Fuirena pumila) Golden Hedge-hyssop (Gratiola aurea) Canada Rush (Juncus canadensis) Brown-fruited Rush (Juncus pelocarpus) Narrowleaf Bushclover (Lespedeza angustifolia) Kalm's Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Virginia Meadow-beauty (Rhexia virginica) Brownish Beakrush (Rhynchospora capitellata) Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) Soft-stem Bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Early Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) Identification Comments Rough hedge-nettle is an herbaceous, rhizomatous, perennial wildflower that grows 3-5 dm tall with stems that are often branched from the base, hairy at the nodes, and sometimes sparsely hairy on the angles. The leaves are opposite, stiff, sessile and linear to narrowly oblong, 2-7 cm long and 3-7 mm wide, tapering to the base and with a few low teeth. The whorls of flowers are spaced far apart and bracts underneath the whorls are without teeth and lance-linear. The sepals are without hairs or with a few hairs on the upper side. Their lobes are narrowly triangular and nearly as long as the flower tube of the white flowers with lavender markings (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species It is best to identify this species in flower. The Best Time to See The best time to identify this plant is July and August. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rough Hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia) 3

4 Flowering Fruiting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Similar Species The time of year you would expect to find Rough Hedge-nettle in New York. Stachys palustris has stems that are hairy on the sides as well as the angles and its leaves are wider, 1-4 cm wide. The flowers are mostly lavender with white markings. Stachys tenuifolia has leaves with petioles and blades that are much wider (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Plantae Anthophyta Class Dicots (Dicotyledoneae) Order Lamiales Family Additional Common Names Hedge-nettle Wound-wort Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Synonyms Stachys aspera (Michx.) Stachys atlantica (Britt.) Stachys grayana (House) Stachys hyssopifolia var. ambigua (Gray) Additional Resources Links Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers Best Identification Reference Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rough Hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia) 4

5 Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp. References Crow, Garrett E. and C. Barre Hellquist Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America: A revised and enlarged edition of Norman C. Fassett's a Manual of Aquatic Plants. Volume One: Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin. 536 Pages. Fernald, M.L Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. D. Van Nostrand, New York pp. Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens. 933 pp. Holmgren, Noel The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Hough, M.Y New Jersey wild plants. Harmony Press, Harmony, NJ. 414 pp. Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery, and map unit tables. Mitchell, Richard S. and Gordon C. Tucker Revised Checklist of New York State Plants. Contributions to a Flora of New York State. Checklist IV. Bulletin No New York State Museum. Albany, NY. 400 pp. NatureServe NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA New York Natural Heritage Program Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. Newcomb, Lawrence Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: An Ingenious New Key System for Quick, Positive Field Identification of the Wildflowers, Flowering Shrubs, and Vines of Northeastern and North-Central North America. Little, Brown and Company. Boston. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC pp. Weldy, T. and D. Werier New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research University of South Florida New York Flora Association Albany, New York New York Natural Heritage Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY Phone: (518) acris@nynhp.org This project is made possible with funding from: - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program - Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Information for this guide was last updated on Aug 15, 2017 This guide was authored by Stephen M. Young NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rough Hedge-nettle (Stachys hyssopifolia) 5