Ground-pine
Ajuga chamaepitys
Despite its pine-like appearance and resinous scent, the ground-pine is actually a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).
- Scientific name
- Ajuga chamaepitys
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Lamiales › Lamiaceae › Ajuga
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry, calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, stony fields, and disturbed agricultural margins.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- Europe, Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, Western Asia
- Size
- 5 to 20 cm in height, spreading up to 30 cm wide
- Lifespan
- 1-2 years (annual or biennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Intensification of agriculture, herbicide application, scrubbing over of open chalk grasslands, and loss of traditional ground-disturbing activities.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to approach and observe. This low-growing plant is non-toxic to touch and releases a pleasant, pine-like aroma when gently brushed. Do not ingest wild plants.
Ajuga chamaepitys is a species of flowering plant of the family Lamiaceae. Popularly known as yellow bugle or ground-pine , the plant has many of the same characteristics and properties as Ajuga reptans . A. chamaepitys can be found in Europe, the Eastern part of the Mediterranean, and North Africa.
Photo: ÖkopatóPál, CC0, via iNaturalist
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