White Turtlehead  (Balmony)

Chelone glabra

A plant of wet meadows, Turtlehead sends up a stem (occasionally branched) with pairs of opposite leave terminating in a dense spike of white flowers whose shape explains the plant's name (especially with the mouth open, see photo below). The flowers, blooming from the bottom up, are 1 inch or more in length and about half as wide; they are normally white, but sometimes marked with pale pink or purple. The opposite leaves are lance- shaped, about 3 inches long, narrow (1/2 inch or a bit more) and edged with small serrations; successive pairs of leaves are oriented at 90 degrees from the preceding pair. Apparently the leaves of some varieties are wider.  

This plant has been used in various traditional medicines

1-3 feet, sun - partial sun. Damp locations.

Summer (July-September).

14 September 2020.

Turtlehead, 14 September 2020.