Help! Plant id. Please.

[jezlee]

Does anybody have any idea what this plant is? The photograph was taken last summer in deciduous woodland by Ironbridge in Shropshire.

[Meta menardi]

looks like Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), but I ain't an expert. Found in wet conditions.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

looks like Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), but I ain't an expert. Found in wet conditions.

I'd agree. Told apart from the mints by its absence of scent!

[jezlee]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

looks like Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), but I ain't an expert. Found in wet conditions.

Thanks for the input, MM! I thought that one was the nearest in my book, but it still doesn't match the illustration somehow - it looks different ... hopefully someone else will confirm it or tell us what it is ...

[Tiggrx]

Not Gypsywort but in fact Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - an escape from someones herb garden

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Not Gypsywort but in fact Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - an escape from someones herb garden

I'm not one to argue against your expertise (grovel, grovel) but could you elucidate for my education, please? I would have thought M. officinalis would have much broader leaves. Also I don't recall seeing lemon balm growing in shade - as in woodland.

A point for jez and others - indication of the size of the plant would also (always) be useful. ...... and, of course, what it smelled of! I may be a chef rather than a botanist at heart because the first thing I do with labiates is crush a leaf ....

[naturelover]

i would say lemon balm too.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I may be a chef rather than a botanist at heart because the first thing I do with labiates is crush a leaf ....

I agree with that. My wife mangles every herb plant or possible herb plant she passes.

I do know someone who made mint sauce with woundwort...

Draw a veil.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I'm not one to argue against your expertise (grovel, grovel) but could you elucidate for my education, please? I would have thought M. officinalis would have much broader leaves. Also I don't recall seeing lemon balm growing in shade - as in woodland.

A point for jez and others - indication of the size of the plant would also (always) be useful. ...... and, of course, what it smelled of! I may be a chef rather than a botanist at heart because the first thing I do with labiates is crush a leaf ....

Lemon Balm does often have broader leaves than this, but they are not abnormally narrow. It may be that some of the leaves lower down the plant (and out of the photo) are broader, or it could be that the plant is slightly atypical as it is growing in shade. Though most people grow Balm in sunny places it will happily grow in the shade, my mother has grown it this way for years.

I always crush labiate leaves too - smell is a much underused identification point.

[jezlee]

A garden escapee, is it? Well, I live and learn ... and I WAS right when I thought it didn't look right for Gypsywort ...

Thanks, Tiggrx for the spot!