{{Short description|Plant species in the mint family}} {{distinguish|text=Bergamot orange (used in Earl Grey tea); or ''Monarda didyma'' (crimson beebalm)}} {{Speciesbox | name = Wild bergamot | image = Monarda fistulosa Arkansas.jpg | status = {{TNCStatus}} | status_system = TNC | status_ref = <ref name="NatureServe">{{Cite NatureServe |date=1 November 2024 |id=2.1253051 |title=''Monarda fistulosa'' |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> | genus = Monarda | species = fistulosa | authority = L. | subdivision_ranks = Varieties | subdivision_ref = <ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |id=452042-1 |title=''Monarda fistulosa'' L. |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> | subdivision = {{Species list | M. fistulosa var. fistulosa | | M. fistulosa var. longepetiolata | B.Boivin | M. fistulosa var. maheuxii | B.Boivin | M. fistulosa var. menthifolia | (Graham) Fernald | M. fistulosa var. mollis | (L.) L. | M. fistulosa var. rubra | A.Gray | M. fistulosa var. stipitatoglandulosa | (Waterf.) ined. }} }}
'''''Monarda fistulosa''''', the '''wild bergamot''' or '''bee balm''',<ref name=ed>[http://eng.fanweb.ca/native-plant-database/wild-bergamot Wild Bergamot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417142531/http://eng.fanweb.ca/native-plant-database/wild-bergamot |date=2010-04-17 }}, Edmonton Naturalization Group</ref> is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America.<ref>{{PLANTS|symbol=MOFI|taxon=Monarda fistulosa|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_mofi.pdf |title=Plant Guide: ''Monarda fistulosa'' |publisher=Plant Materials, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture}}</ref> The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it. Despite its name, it has no relation to the 'true' bergamot, a citrus fruit.
==Description and distribution== frameless|right ''Monarda fistulosa'' is an herbaceous perennial that grows from slender creeping rhizomes, thus commonly occurring in large clumps. The plants are typically up to {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall, with a few erect branches. Its leaves are {{convert|2-3|in|cm|abbr=on}} long, lance-shaped, and toothed. Its compact flower clusters are solitary at the ends of branches. Each cluster is about {{convert|1.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} long, containing about 20–50 flowers. Wild bergamot often grows in rich soils in dry fields, thickets, and clearings, usually on limy soil. The plants generally flower from June to September.<ref>Dickinson T, Metsger D, Bull J, Dickinson R. (2004) The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario, Toronto:ROM Museum, p. 293.</ref>
''Monarda fistulosa'' ranges from Quebec to the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, south to Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Idaho, and northeastern Washington. The Latin specific epithet ''fistulosa'' means hollow like a pipe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa - Plant Finder|url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=281404|access-date=2022-01-18|website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}</ref>
The plant is noted for its fragrance, though the composition of its oils is quite variable. It can have thymol, geraniol, carvacrol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, and α-thujene in different amounts with the exact cause of this variability still being researched, though environmental and genetic factors probably both play a role.<ref name="Keefover">{{cite journal |last1=Keefover-Ring |first1=Ken |title=Monarda fistulosa: Making Good Scents in Colorado |journal=Colorado Native Plant Society |date=9 May 2015 |url=https://conps.org/monarda-fistulosa-making-good-scents-in-colorado/ |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="Ghosh">{{cite journal |last1=Ghosh |first1=Monica |last2=Schepetkin |first2=Igor A. |last3=Özek |first3=Gulmira |last4=Özek |first4=Temel |last5=Khlebnikov |first5=Andrei I. |last6=Damron |first6=Derek S. |last7=Quinn |first7=Mark T. |title=Essential Oils from Monarda fistulosa: Chemical Composition and Activation of Transient Receptor Potential A1 (TRPA1) Channels |journal=Molecules |date=22 October 2020 |volume=25 |issue=21 |pages=4873 |doi=10.3390/molecules25214873 |pmid=33105614 |pmc=7659962 |doi-access=free }}</ref> At least one population in Colorado also contains linalool.<ref name="Keefover" />
==Taxonomy== Several varieties have been variously recognized within ''Monarda fistulosa'', of which some have also been treated as subspecies or as distinct species. Some of the varieties are geographically widespread, and others are quite restricted in their ranges. Varieties include: * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''brevis''<ref>This taxon is sometimes referred to as ''Monarda fistulosa'' subsp. ''brevis''; however, as of September 2011, that nomenclatural combination has not yet been validly published.</ref> – Smoke Hole bergamot (Virginia and West Virginia)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa ssp. 1|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=139254&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kimball |first1=R.T. |last2=Crawford |first2=D.J. |last3=Page |first3=J.R. |last4=Harmon |first4=P.J. |title=Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) diversity within Monarda fistulosa var. brevis (Lamiaceae) and divergence between var. brevis and var. fistulosa in West Virginia|journal=Brittonia|year=2001|volume=53|issue=4|pages=511–518|doi=10.1007/bf02809651|bibcode=2001Britt..53..511K |s2cid=44055621}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''fistulosa'' – wild bergamot (widespread, primarily eastern and central North America)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. fistulosa|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=148377&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''longipetiolata'' – (Ontario and Quebec)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. longipetiolata|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=128441&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''maheuxii'' – (Ontario)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. maheuxii|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=152572&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''menthifolia'' – (widespread, western North America, excluding Oregon and California)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=157178&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''mollis'' – (widespread, primarily eastern and central North America)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. mollis|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=149022&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''rubra'' – (eastern North America, uncommon)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. rubra|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=158978&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> * ''Monarda fistulosa'', unnamed variety<ref>This taxon is sometimes referred to as ''Monarda fistulosa'' var. ''stipitatoglandulosa''; however, as of September 2011, that nomenclatural combination has not yet been validly published. The synonymous name ''Monarda stipitatoglandulosa'' is validly published.</ref> – (Arkansas and Oklahoma)<ref>{{cite web|title=Monarda fistulosa var. 1|url=http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=143389&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=156029&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=156029&selectedIndexes=139254&selectedIndexes=152479&selectedIndexes=143389&selectedIndexes=148377&selectedIndexes=128441&selectedIndexes=152572&selectedIndexes=157178&selectedIndexes=149022&selectedIndexes=158978|work=NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref>
One authority states that Native Americans recognized four kinds of wild bergamot that had different odors (Wood, 1997).
==Conservation status in the United States== It is listed as historical in Rhode Island.<ref name="PLANTS">{{PLANTS |symbol=MOFI |taxon=Monarda fistulosa |access-date=22 January 2018 }}</ref>
==Uses== Wild bergamot is considered a medicinal plant by many Native Americans. The Oneida call it "Number Six", in honor of it being "the sixth medicine given by the Creator";<ref name="Oneida">{{Cite web |date=10 Jan 2018 |title=Restoring wildlife habitat and traditional plants with the Oneida Nation |url=https://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/OneidaRestoration.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029112926/https://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/OneidaRestoration.html |archive-date=29 Oct 2021 |access-date=15 Apr 2025 |website=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service}}</ref> other nations that use it include the Menominee, the Ojibwe, and the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk). It is used most commonly to treat colds, and is frequently made into a tea. Today, many families still use wild bergamot during the cold and flu season. The tea may be sweetened with honey, as it tends to be quite strong.<ref>[https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/doc/cs_mofi.doc Wild Bergamot], USDA</ref>
The species of ''Monarda'' that may go under the common name "bee balm," including ''M. fistulosa'', have a long history of use as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, including the Blackfoot. The Blackfoot recognized the plant's strong antiseptic action, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} A tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} Bee balm is the natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The Winnebago used a tea made from bee balm as a general stimulant.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}} Bee balm was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence.<ref>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, {{ISBN|0-87842-359-1}}</ref> Leaves were eaten boiled with meat and a concoction of the plant was made into hair pomade. The herb is considered an active diaphoretic (sweat inducer).{{Cn|date=May 2023}}
The essential oil of ''Monarda fistulosa'' was analyzed using mass spectrometry and arithmetical retention indices, and was found to contain ''p''-cymene (32.5%), carvacrol (24.0%), thymol (12.6%), an aliphatic aldehyde (6.3%), the methyl ether of carvacrol (5.5%), α-pinene (3.5%), β-pinene (2.9%), sabinene hydrate (1.9%), α-terpinene (1.7%), citronellyl acetate (1.6%), and β-caryophyllene (1.1%).<ref>{{cite journal |first1=V. A. |last1=Zamureenko |first2=N. A. |last2=Klyuev |first3=B. V. |last3=Bocharov |first4=V. S. |last4=Kabanov |first5=A. M. |last5=Zakharov |title=An investigation of the component composition of the essential oil of Monarda fistulosa |journal=Chemistry of Natural Compounds |volume=25 |issue=5 |date=Sep 1989 |doi=10.1007/BF00598073 |pages=549–551|s2cid=24267822 }}</ref>
''M. fistulosa'' distillate has been proposed as an antimicrobial agent in laboratory settings, specifically as an agent in artificial media used for growth of tachinid fly larvae.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dindo|first1=Maria Luisa|last2=Modesto|first2=Monica|last3=Rossi|first3=Chiara|last4=Di Vito|first4=Maura|last5=Burgio|first5=Giovanni|last6=Barbanti|first6=Lorenzo|last7=Mattarelli|first7=Paola|date=2020-09-13|title=Monarda fistulosa hydrolate as antimicrobial agent in artificial media for the in vitro rearing of the tachinid parasitoid Exorista larvarum|journal=Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata|volume=169|issue=1|pages=79–89|doi=10.1111/eea.12964|s2cid=225493796|issn=0013-8703|doi-access=free|hdl=11585/785671|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
==Ecology== As a honey plant, it is popular with a variety of pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and lepidoptera. It is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and raspberry pyrausta.<ref>The Xerces Society (2016), ''Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects'', Timber Press.</ref>
==See also== * List of honey plants
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== * {{cite book | author-link=Neltje Blanchan |last=Blanchan |first=Neltje | title=Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors | year=2002 | publisher=Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Monarda fistulosa}} {{Wikispecies}} * {{Connecticut Plants|394 |link=1}} * [http://www.northernbushcraft.com/plants/wildBergamot/notes.htm Edibility of Monarda fistulosa]: Visual identification and edible parts of Monarda fistulosa * {{Webarchive |title=Wild Bergamot, Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218015548/http://www.ontariowildflower.com/wildflower_meadow.htm#bergamot |date=18 February 2020}} * {{PFAF|Monarda menthifolia}}
{{Transient receptor potential channel modulators}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1521039}}
fistulosa Category:Flora of Northern America Category:Medicinal plants Category:Garden plants Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Butterfly food plants