Black Horehound

Ballota nigra

TQ4792 02/07/2024 ©Raymond Small
Black Horehound has pinkish hooded flowers arranged in whorls around the top of its square stems from June until September. The leaves are hairy with toothed edges. It has a pungent smell, especially when the leaves are crushed and is known colloquially as 'Stinking Roger'. The strong aroma means it is rejected by cattle making it useless for grazing. The Greek ballo means to reject, hence ballota in the scientific name. The leaves appear blackish when dried and this likely explains nigra which means 'black'. Belongs to the Mint family.

TQ4792 11/10/2022 ©Raymond Small 

© hainaultforest.net. All rights reserved.