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Scutellaria parvula — little skullcap

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Facts

Little skullcap is a small and easily overlooked plant of eastern and central North America, whose variability has been resolved into three varieties. All of them are present but rare in New England, with one (Scutellaria parvula var. missouriensis) being more widespread, while the second (S. parvula var. australis) is known only from Connecticut, while the third (S. parvula var. parvula) is known only from Vermont. They are distinguished on characters of the lateral veins of the leaf blade, and on details of the pubescence. The species is often found in shallow soils over bedrock.

Habitat

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges, shores of rivers or lakes, woodlands

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
  • terrestrial
  • wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Vermont
Flower petal color
blue to purple
Leaf type
the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
Leaf arrangement
opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
Leaf blade edges
  • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
  • the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
Flower symmetry
there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
Number of sepals, petals or tepals
there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
Fusion of sepals and petals
the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
Stamen number
4
Fruit type (general)
the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
Show all characteristics

  • Clonal plantlets

    Bulbils
    the plant does not appear to have bulbils
    Bulblets replace flowers
    there are no bulblets where the flowers are located

  • Flowers

    Calyx symmetry
    there is only one way to evenly divide the calyx (the calyx is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Carpels fused
    the carpels are fused to one another
    Cleistogamous flowers
    there are no cleistogamous flowers on the plan
    Corolla morphology
    the flower has two prominent lips
    Corolla palate
    yes
    Corona lobe length
    0 mm
    Epicalyx
    the flower does not have an epicalyx
    Epicalyx number of parts
    0
    Flower description
    the flower has a superior ovary, and lacks a hypanthium
    Flower petal color
    blue to purple
    Flower reproductive parts
    • the flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
    • the flower has either only pollen- or only seed-producing parts
    Flower symmetry
    there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Flowers sunken into stem
    no
    Fused stamen clusters
    NA
    Fusion of sepals and petals
    the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
    Horns in hoods (Asclepias)
    NA
    Hypanthium
    the flower does not have a hypanthium
    Inflorescence length
    30–100 mm
    Inflorescence one-sided
    the flowers are arrayed in a spiral around the inflorescence axis or branches, or occur singly, or in several ranks
    Inner tepals (Rumex)
    NA
    Marks on petals
    the petals have spots or streaks on them
    Nectar spur
    the flower has no nectar spurs
    Number of carpels
    2
    Number of pistils
    • 1
    • 4
    Number of sepals, petals or tepals
    there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
    Number of styles
    1
    Ovary position
    the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
    Petal and sepal arrangement
    the flower includes two cycles of petal- or sepal-like structures
    Petal and sepal colors
    blue to purple
    Petal appearance
    the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)
    Petal folds or pleats
    the petals of the flower do not have folds or plaits
    Petal hairs (Viola)
    NA
    Petal hairs on inner/upper surface
    there are hairs on the inner/upper petal surface
    Petal length
    7–9 mm
    Petal number
    5
    Petal tips (Cuscuta)
    NA
    Reproductive system
    all the flowers have both carpels and stamens (synoecious)
    Scales inside corolla
    no
    Sepal and petal color
    the sepals are different from the petals
    Sepal appearance
    the sepals are green or brown, and leaf-like in texture
    Sepal appendages
    • the sepals do not have appendages on them
    • the sepals have one or more appendages on them
    Sepal appendages (Oenothera)
    NA
    Sepal features
    one or more sepals have glands that are raised from the surface by a stalk
    Sepal length
    3–7 mm
    Sepal number
    2
    Sepals fused only to sepals
    the sepals are fused to each other (not other flower parts), at least near their bases
    Stamen attachment
    the stamens are attached at or near the bases of the petals or tepals
    Stamen number
    4
    Stamen relative length
    anything
    Stamens fused
    the stamens are not attached to one another
    Staminodes
    there are no staminodes on the flower
    Style petal-like
    the styles are not petal-like
    Umbel flower reproductive parts
    NA
    Upper lip of bilabiate corolla
    the upper lip of the bilabiate corolla has one lobe

  • Fruits or seeds

    Achene relative orientation
    NA
    Achene shape
    NA
    Achene surface (Polygonum)
    NA
    Achene type
    NA
    Berry color
    NA
    Capsule color (Viola)
    NA
    Capsule ribs
    NA
    Capsule splitting
    NA
    Fruit (pyxis) dehiscence
    NA
    Fruit beak length
    0 mm
    Fruit features (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Fruit locules
    four
    Fruit shape
    the fruit is spherical
    Fruit type (general)
    the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
    Fruit type (specific)
    the fruit is a schizocarp (when dry it splits into sections, each holding one or more seeds)
    Legumes (Fabaceae)
    NA
    Mericarp length
    1–1.3 mm
    Mericarp segment shape (Desmodium)
    NA
    Other markings on berry
    NA
    Ovary stipe
    the ovary or fruit does not have a stipe
    Placenta arrangement
    the plant has axile placentation, in which the ovules are attached where the septa of a compound ovary are united, usually on the central axis, or to the septa themselves
    Rows of seeds in fruit (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Schizocarpic fruit compression
    the fruit is not flattened
    Schizocarpic fruit segments
    4
    Septum in fruit (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Wings on fruit
    the fruit does not have wings on it
    prickles on fruits
    the fruits do not have thorn-like defensive structures

  • Glands or sap

    Glands on leaf blade
    the leaf blades have glandular dots or scales
    Sap
    the sap is clear and watery
    Sap color
    the sap is clear

  • Growth form

    Growth form
    the plant is an herb (it has self-supporting stems)
    Horizontal rooting stem
    • the plant does not have stolons
    • the plant has stolons
    Lifespan
    the plant lives more than two years
    Parasitism
    the plant is not parasitic
    Plant color
    the leaves or young stems of the plant are green
    Plants darken when dry
    no
    Spines on plant
    the plant has no spines

  • Leaves

    Bracteole number (Apiaceae)
    0
    Bracts in plantain (Plantago)
    NA
    Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Final leaf segment length to width ratio (compound lvs only)
    0
    Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Floral bracts
    the flower has one or more bracts associated with it
    Hairs on underside of leaf
    • the underside of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
    • the underside of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
    Hairs on upper side of leaf
    • the upper side of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
    • the upper side of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
    Leaf arrangement
    opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
    Leaf blade base
    the leaf has a distinct leaf stalk (petiole)
    Leaf blade base shape
    • the base of the leaf blade is cordate (heart-shaped, has rounded lobes at the base)
    • the base of the leaf blade is rounded
    • the base of the leaf blade is truncate (ends abruptly in a more or less straight line as though cut off)
    Leaf blade edges
    • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
    • the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
    Leaf blade hairs
    the leaf blade has hairs with glands at their tips
    Leaf blade length
    10–16 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is orbicular (roughly circular, as wide as long)
    • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
    Leaf blade surface colors
    the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color
    Leaf blade width
    3–10 mm
    Leaf duration
    the leaves drop off in winter (or they whither but persist on the plant)
    Leaf form
    the leaves are green, with an expanded blade and a leaf-like texture
    Leaf spines
    there are no spines on the leaf edges
    Leaf stalk
    the leaves have leaf stalks
    Leaf stalk length
    3–15 mm
    Leaf teeth and lobes
    • the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
    • the leaf blade margin has outward-pointing teeth
    Leaf tip
    • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
    Leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Leaf variation
    the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem
    Leaflet number
    0
    Leaves per node
    there are two leaves per node along the stem
    Pinnately compound leaf type
    NA
    Specific leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Stipels
    NA
    Stipule features
    NA
    Stipules
    there are no stipules on the plant

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • cliffs, balds, or ledges
    • ridges or ledges
    • shores of rivers or lakes
    • woodlands

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Branched tendrils
    NA
    Direction of stem hairs
    • the hairs point downwards, or they bend outwards and then downwards
    • the hairs point mostly upwards to outwards
    Flowering stem cross-section
    the flowering stem is roughly square
    Hair between stem nodes
    the stem has hairs between the nodes
    Hairs between stem nodes
    at least some of the hairs on the stem have glands
    Hooked hairs on stem between nodes
    no
    Leaves on stem
    there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
    Plant height
    10–30 cm
    Stem orientation
    the stems are upright or angled outwards
    Tendril origin
    NA
    Tendrils
    the plant does not have tendrils

Wetland status

Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
absent
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Connecticut
unrankable (S-rank: SU)
Maine
historical (S-rank: SH)

var. missouriensis

Connecticut
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
Maine
historical (S-rank: SH), potentially extirpated (code: PE)
Massachusetts
unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Vermont
extremely rare (S-rank: S1)

var. parvula

Vermont
rare (S-rank: S2)

Subspecies and varieties

Variety missouriensis is known from CT, MA, ME, VT. Variety australis is known from CT. Variety parvula is known from VT. Previous reports of var. parvula from York County, ME, were based on specimens of S. parvula var. missouriensis that were only partially identified (i.e., the specimens were identified to the species level only and they were taken to be the typical variety without review of the sheets). Epling (1942) also cited a specimen of var. parvula from ME with simply the word “Fulton”, which was meant to be a place name. However, I am unaware of any town or village in the state by that name. Further, Epling did not map this species as being from ME. All varieties are of conservation concern.

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

5.  Scutellaria parvula Michx. NC

little skullcap.  5a. Scutellaria ambigua Nutt.; S. leonardii Epling; S. nervosa Pursh var. ambigua (Nutt.) Fern.; S. parvula Michx. var. leonardii (Epling) Fern.;  5b. Scutellaria australis (Fassett) Epling • CT, Ma, Me, VT. Woodlands, ledges, balds, river banks, meadows, fields, disturbed soil, often associated with thin soils over bedrock.

1a.  Stem pubescent with minute, curved-ascending, eglandular hairs; calyx pubescent with eglandular hairs; principal leaf blades with (1–) 2 (–3) pairs of lateral veins 
 … 5a. S. parvula var. missouriensis (Torr.) Goodman & C.A. Lawson

1b.  Stem pubescent with minute, retrorse (or curved-ascending in var. australis) eglandular hairs and longer, spreading, glandular hairs; calyx pubescent, in part, with glandular hairs; principal leaf blades with (2–) 3–5 pairs of lateral veins

2a.  Lateral veins of leaf blades arched and anastomosing to form a continuous, submarginal vein; eglandular hairs of the stem curved-ascending; leaf blades abaxially with glandular hairs only … 5b. S. parvula var. australis Fassett

2b.  Lateral veins of the leaf blades not anastomosing or inconspicuously so; eglandular 
hairs of stem retrorsely oriented; leaf blades abaxially with both glandular and eglandular hairs … 5c. S. parvula var. parvula

Variety missouriensis is known from CT, Ma, Me, VT. Variety australis is known from CT. Variety parvula is known from VT. Previous reports of var. parvula from York County, ME, were based on specimens of S. parvula var. missouriensis that were only partially identified (i.e., the specimens were identified to the species level only and they were taken to be the typical variety without review of the sheets). Epling (1942) also cited a specimen of var. parvula from ME with simply the word “Fulton”, which was meant to be a place name. However, I am unaware of any town or village in the state by that name. Further, Epling did not map this species as being from ME. All varieties are of conservation concern.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Clinopodium acinos:
calyx lacking a transverse ridge on the upper lip, the entire calyx persistent in fruit, and leaves with blades 6-12 mm long, usually on short petioles 1-2 mm long (vs. S. parvula, with the calyx with a small, transverse ridge on the upper lip, the upper lip deciduous in fruit, and leaves with blades 10-16 mm long, usually sessile).

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Scutellaria