Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month

Florida Betony

Stachys floridana

Florida Betony is a common wildflower that spreads prolifically and is very attractive to pollinators. Almost the entire plant is edible to humans, including the tuber roots. These tubers give the plant it’s nickname of rattlesnake weed since they appear like the rattle of a rattlesnake. The roots can be harvested in spring time when they are white and crisp then eaten raw, pickled, or cooked in a dish.

Florida Betony tubular flowers are pinkish to purplish and two lipped. Lower lips have spots or stripes. Flowers grow on spikes in whorls of 3 to 6. As a member of the mint family, this plant has a square stem that is obvious as a cross section or even felt in the hand.

Learn more about the plant characteristics here: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-stachys-floridana/

Check out other Wild Weeds Here: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/bakerco/tag/wild-weeds/ 

4