Scutellaria humilis

Family Lamiaceae

Dwarf Skullcap

Perennial herb to 15 cm tall, with hairs along ridges of branches. Spreads by rhizomes up to 1 m.

Flowers: Pale pink with white markings, November - May. Possibly bee-pollinated, possibly self-pollinated.

Fruit: Dry paper capsule with 4 seeds. Mature September–April.

Seed: Small, spherical, covered in small warty protruberances. 500 viable seed/plant recorded under glasshouse conditions. Local disperal only. No specialised dispersal mechanism. Some dormancy.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Woodland, often moist sheltered areas in partial shade.
• Resprouts from rhizome after fire.
• Common in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden, particularly after good rain.