Stachys lavandulifolia
A low woundwort with hairy pink-purple flowers on the mountains of eastern Anatolia, the Caucasus and Iran; it gives nectar on summer pastures and is gathered as a tea.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,1-0,3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Stachys lavandulifolia is a low, densely hairy perennial of mountain steppe, stony slopes and high pastures from eastern and south-eastern Anatolia to the Caucasus and Iran. It is recognised by its narrow, lavender-like leaves and its pink-purple two-lipped flowers emerging from long-haired calyces. In the region it is one of the plants gathered and dried under the name mountain tea.
Flowering
Depending on altitude it flowers from June to August. On high pastures its flowering coincides with the time when migratory apiaries move up to the mountains.
Honey and pollen
It has no honey of its own; it is regarded as one of the components of highland blossom honeys in eastern Anatolia. No nectar measurements specific to this species were found. Its pollen contribution is low.
Note for the beekeeper
Collecting the flowering stems for tea reduces bee forage during flowering; if collection is left until the end of flowering, both bees and gatherers benefit. It is relatively tolerant of heavy grazing.