Marrubium vulgare

Marrubium vulgare
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Marrubium
Species:	M. vulgare
Binomial name
Marrubium vulgare L.

Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound or Common Horehound) is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, northern Africa and Asia.

It is a gray-leaved herbaceous perennial plant, somewhat resembling mint in appearance, which grows to 25–45 cm tall. The leaves are 2–5 cm long with a densely crinkled surface, and are covered in downy hairs. The flowers are white, borne in clusters on the upper part of the main stem.

Candy

Horehound is used to make hard lozenge candies that are considered by folk medicine to aid digestion, soothe sore throats, and relieve inflammation.^{[citation needed]}

As an invasive weed

Horehound was introduced to southern Australia in the 19th century as a medicinal herb. It became a weed of native grasslands and pastures where it was introduced with settlers’ livestock, and was first declared under noxious weeds legislation. It now appears to have reached its full potential distribution.

It occupies disturbed or overgrazed ground, and is favoured by grazing because it is highly unpalatable to livestock. It may persist in native vegetation that has been grazed.

As biocontrol

Marrubium vulgare is also used as a natural grasshopper repellent in agriculture^[which?].

In astrology

According to John Gower in Book 7 of the Confessio Amantis, this plant was the herb of the fourth star of Nectanabus' astrology, Capella. Gower uses the older name, Alhaiot (VII:1338).

Gallery

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  Wild horehound

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  flowers

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  foliage of young plants

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  Horehound bug, a common insect that feeds on White Horehound

References

• Everist, D.L. (1981) Poisonous Plants of Australia. 3rd edn (Angus & Robertson: Sydney). ISBN 0207142289
• Parsons, W. & Cuthbertson, E. (2001) Noxious Weeds of Australia. 2nd edn (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood). ISBN 0643065148
• Jepson Manual Treatment