Teucrium chamaedrys


Teucrium chamaedrys, the wall germander, is a species of ornamental plant native to Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa, and to the Middle East as far east as Iran. It was historically used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of gout and sometimes as a component of Venice treacle.

Subspecies

  1. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. albarracinii Rech.f. - France, Spain
  2. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. algeriense Rech.f. - Algeria
  3. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys - central + southern Europe, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran
  4. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. germanicum Rech.f. - France, Germany
  5. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. gracile Rech.f. - Algeria, Morocco
  6. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. lydium O.Schwarz - Greece, Turkey
  7. Teucrium chamaedrys var. multinodum Bordz. - Caucasus
  8. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. nuchense Rech.f. - Caucasus
  9. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. olympicum Rech.f. - Greece
  10. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pectinatum Rech.f. - France, Italy
  11. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum Rech.f. - France, Spain
  12. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. sinuatum Rech.f. - Iran, Iraq, Turkey
  13. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. syspirense Rech.f. - Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan
  14. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. tauricola Rech.f. - Turkey, Syria
  15. Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. trapezunticum Rech.f. - Caucasus, Turkey

    Appearance

Wall germander is a creeping evergreen perennial 6 to 18 inches tall. Its scalloped, opposite leaves are 1/2 - 1 inches long, dark green, and shiny. In late summer, tubular flowers grow in whorls from the leaf axils.

Cultivation

Wall germander can be grown in USDA Zones 5-10. It may be propagated by vegetative cuttings or by the division of established clumps.

Medicinal uses

In Bulgaria, a tea is made from the leaves of this herb, called podabiče, to ease gastric distress.

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