Bastard pennyroyal

Trichostema dichotomum, the bastard pennyroyal or forked bluecurls, is a slender annual herb of the Lamiaceae family, native to the eastern and midwestern United States and southeastern Canada. Plants grow to 30 to 60 cm tall on erect, square, finely hairy stems that branch repeatedly above into a forked pattern, hence the common name. Opposite, simple leaves are lance-shaped to ovate, 2 to 5 cm long, with entire margins, covered in fine glandular hairs that release a strong, mint-like aroma when crushed. The flowers are remarkable: a short bell-shaped calyx supports a deep blue, two-lipped corolla with very long, gracefully curved blue stamens that arch up and forward. Each bloom opens only for a half day in the morning and drops its petals and stamens by afternoon, but a long succession appears from late summer through mid-autumn. The species favours dry, sunny, sandy sites such as sandhills, open pine woods, glades, road cuts and other disturbed ground.