# Melittis

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{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=May 2026}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Bastard balm
|image = Melittis melissophyllum 010603.jpg
|display_parents = 2
|genus = Melittis
|parent_authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
|species = melissophyllum
|authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=a>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=124140 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref>
|synonyms =
*''Melissophyllum'' <small>Hill</small>
*''Oenonea'' <small>Bubani</small>
*''Melittis melissifolium'' <small>Salisb.</small>
*''Melissophyllum silvaticum''<small> St-Lager</small>
*''Melittis albida''<small> Guss. </small>
*''Melittis carpatica''<small> Klokov</small>
*''Melittis graeca''<small> Klokov </small>
*''Melittis grandiflora''<small> Sm.</small>
*''Melittis hispanica''<small> Klokov</small>
*''Melittis kerneriana''<small> Klokov</small>
*''Mellitis melissifolium''<small> Salisb</small>
*''Melittis sarmatica''<small> Klokov </small>
*''Melittis subcordata''<small> Klokov</small>
*''Melittis sylvestris''<small>Lam. </small>
*''Melissa tragi'' <small>Garsault</small>
*''Rehmannia chinensis'' <small>[Libosch.](/source/Libosch.) ex [Fish.](/source/Fish.) & [Mey.](/source/Mey.)</small>
*''Oenonea melissifolia'' <small>Bubani</small>
}}

'''''Melittis melissophyllum''''' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, [Lamiaceae](/source/Lamiaceae). Its common name is '''bastard balm'''. It is the only species in the [monotypic genus](/source/monotypic_genus) '''''Melittis'''''.<ref name=scheen>Scheen, A. C., et al. (2008). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00180.x/abstract Molecular phylogenetics of tribe Synandreae, a North American lineage of lamioid mints (Lamiaceae).] ''Cladistics'' 24(3) 299-314.</ref> The genus name is derived from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) ''melitta'', which is in turn from ''melissa'' ("a bee").<ref name="nic">Nicholson, G., et al. [https://books.google.com/books?id=vMlOAAAAYAAJ ''The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening: Volume 4''.] [L. Upcott Gill](/source/L._Upcott_Gill). 1887. pg. 347.</ref>

;Subspecies<ref name=a/>
*''Melittis melissophyllum'' subsp. ''albida'' <small>(Guss.) P.W.Ball</small> - eastern Mediterranean from Sardinia to Turkey
*''Melittis melissophyllum'' subsp. ''carpatica'' <small>(Klokov) P.W.Ball</small> - eastern Europe from Austria to Baltic States 
*''Melittis melissophyllum'' subsp. ''melissophyllum'' - western Europe from Britain to Spain + Italy

==Distribution==
It is native to central and southern Europe from [Ireland](/source/Ireland), [Britain](/source/Great_Britain) and [Portugal](/source/Portugal) east to [Turkey](/source/Turkey) + [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine) + [Baltic States](/source/Baltic_States).<ref name=a/><ref>[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=melittis+melissophyllum Altervista Flora Italiana, Erba limona, Bastard Balm,  ''Melittis melissophyllum'' L. ] includes photos + European distribution map</ref>

==Description==
''Melittis melissophyllum'' reaches on average {{convert|30|-|50|cm}} of height, with a minimum of {{convert|20|cm}} and a maximum of {{convert|60|cm}}. It is a strongly aromatic plant with erect hairy stems. The root of this plant is a perennial short [rhizome](/source/rhizome). This species is quite variable in leaf-shape and corolla-color.  The leaves reach {{convert|5|-|9|cm}} of length. They are oval, bluntly-toothed, quite hairy. They have a short [petiole](/source/Petiole_(botany)) and are in opposite pairs up the stems. The [inflorescence](/source/inflorescence) is composed of large pedunculated [hermaphrodite](/source/hermaphrodite) flowers (two to six, or more)  growing in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are labiate, arranged in pairs and are one-sided (all flowers "look" at the same side). They are usually white or pale pink with a large pinkish purple blotch on the lower lip. They are mainly pollinated by bees and moths. The flowering period extends from May through August.

==Habitat==
The plant grows in shady deciduous woods, often with oak, beech, and chestnut. It can also be found among pines and junipers. It is common at altitudes of {{convert|0|-|1400|m}} above sea level.

==Cultivation==
Bastard balm grows well as an edging in a sunny woodland or a scrubby border. It is attractive to insects. [Cultivar](/source/Cultivar)s include 'Royal Velvet Distinction'.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Melittis melissophyllum 1.jpg|Form
File:Lamiaceae - Melittis melissophyllum-3.JPG|Flowers
File:Melittis melissophyllum 230506a.jpg|In white
File:Melittis melissophyllum 'Royal Velvet'.jpg|'Royal Velvet Distinction'
File:Lamiaceae - Melittis melissophyllum-1.JPG|Leaf
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. II, pg. 452
* Pink, A. -  Gardening for the Million (2004) - Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation| {{ISBN|1-4264-5707-3}} [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11892 Gardening for the Million] 
* Klein Carol - How to grow ''Melittis melissophyllum'' - The Daily Telegraph - [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3335387/How-to-grow-Melittis-melissophyllum.html How to grow] 
* Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Plant Breeders' Rights Office: "Royal Velvet Distinction" - 30 Apr 2007 - [http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pbrpov/cropreport/bas/app00003609e.shtml ''Melittis melissophyllum'']

==External links==
* [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id41029/ Biolib]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924201058/http://www.bioimages.org.uk/HTML/T52573.HTM ''Melittis melissophyllum''] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233318/http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o620-bastardbalm.php Bastard Balm]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Melittis+melissophyllum Plants]
* {{commons-inline|Melittis melissophylum}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q3854250|from2=Q158925}}

Category:Lamiaceae
Category:Flora of Europe
Category:Monotypic Lamiaceae genera
Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melittis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melittis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melittis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.