''Scutellaria'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

mint Mint or The Mint may refer to: Plants * Lamiaceae, the mint family ** ''Mentha'', the genus of plants commonly known as "mint" Coins and collectibles * Mint (facility), a facility for manufacturing coins * Mint condition, a state of like-new ...

family,

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle, or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil (herb), ba ...

. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",''Scutellaria parvula'' var. ''missouriensis''.
Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. or "little dish", referring to the shape of the

calyx CALYX, Inc. is a non-profit publisher of art and literature by women founded in 1976 based in Corvallis, Oregon. CALYX publishes both '' CALYX, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women'' twice a year and CALYX Books, which publishes one to three ...

. The common name alludes to the resemblance of the same structure to "miniature

medieval helmets In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and t ...

". The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution,Ulloa, C. U. and P. M. Jørgensen
''Scutellaria''.
''Árboles y arbustos de los Andes del Ecuador''. eFloras. with species occurring nearly worldwide, mainly in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

regions.''Scutellaria''.
The Jepson eFlora 2013.

Description

Most Scutellaria are

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year **Yearbook **Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), a ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...

s from tall, however a few are

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or undershrub is either a small shrub (e.g. prostrate shrubs) or a perennial that is largely herbaceous but slightly woody at the base (e.g. garden pink and florist's chrysanthemum). The term is often interch ...

s. Some Scutellaria are

aquatic Aquatic means relating to water; living in or near water or taking place in water; does not include groundwater, as "aquatic" implies an environment where plants and animals live. Aquatic(s) may also refer to: * Aquatic animal, either vertebrate ...

. Scutellaria have four-angled stems and opposite

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

, and flowers with upper and lower lips. The genus is most easily recognized by the typical shield on the calyx that has also prompted its common name.

Traditional use

Skullcaps are used in

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...

, such as in

traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...

. The root of ''

Scutellaria baicalensis ''Scutellaria baicalensis'', with the common name Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. Distribution The plant is native to China, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia in the Russian Far East and Si ...

'' a common component of many preparations is marketed in volumes that have led to the

overexploitation Overexploitation, also called overharvesting or ecological overshoot, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to ...

of the wild plant. Its rarity has led to an increase in price, and encouraged the adulteration of the product with other species of ''Scutellaria''. In 1773, ''

Scutellaria lateriflora ''Scutellaria lateriflora'', (commonly "blue skullcap", "mad dog skullcap",rabies Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. It was historically referred to as hydrophobia ("fear of water") because its victims panic when offered liquids to drink. Early symptoms can include fever and abn ...

. Today it is still a popular medicinal herb. It is widely available as a commercial product used in western herbalism. The plant reportedly commands prices of $16 to $64 per pound dry weight.

Constituents

The main compounds in skullcap are

flavonoid Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...

s. Isolated chemical compounds include

wogonin Wogonin is an ''O''-methylated flavone, a flavonoid-like chemical compound which is found in ''Scutellaria baicalensis''. The glycosides of wogonin are known as wogonosides. For example, oroxindin is a wogonin glucuronide isolated from '' Orox ...

wogonoside Wogonin is an ''O''-methylated flavone, a flavonoid-like chemical compound which is found in ''Scutellaria baicalensis''. The glycosides of wogonin are known as wogonosides. For example, oroxindin is a wogonin glucuronide isolated from '' Orox ...

, and 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxyl flavanone found in ''Scutellaria''. Other constituents include

baicalin As baicalin is a flavone glycoside, it is a flavonoid. It is the glucuronide of baicalein. Natural occurrences Baicalin is found in several species in the genus ''Scutellaria'', including ''Scutellaria baicalensis'', and ''Scutellaria laterifl ...

apigenin Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), found in many plants, is a flavone compound that is the aglycone of several naturally occurring glycosides. It is a yellow crystalline solid that has been used to dye wool. Apigenin is abundant in parsl ...

oroxylin A Oroxylin A is an O-methylated flavone, a chemical compound that can be found in the medicinal plants ''Scutellaria baicalensis'' and ''Scutellaria lateriflora'', and the '' Oroxylum indicum'' tree. It has demonstrated activity as a dopamine reup ...

, and

scutellarein Scutellarein is a flavone that can be found in ''Scutellaria lateriflora'' and other members of the genus ''Scutellaria'', as well as the fern '' Asplenium belangeri''. Glycosides The scutellarin (Scutellarein-7-glucuronide A glucuronide, al ...

Selected species

Estimates of the number of species in the genus range from around 300 to about 350''Scutellaria''.
Flora of China. or 360 to 470. Selected species include: *''

Scutellaria alabamensis ''Scutellaria alabamensis'', known as Alabama skullcap, is a rare and endangered wildflower, endemic only to 9 counties in North central Alabama. Description Alabama skullcap is an erect Perennial plant, perennial herb, usually 4.5–6 cm t ...

'' – Alabama skullcap *''

Scutellaria albida ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria alborosea ''Scutellaria alborosea'' is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, ...

Lem. Charles Antoine Lemaire (1 November 1800, in Paris – 22 June 1871, in Paris), was a French botanist and botanical author, noted for his publications on Cactaceae. Education Born the son of Antoine Charles Lemaire and Marie Jeanne Davio, he ha ...

*'' Scutellaria alpina'' L. – alpine skullcap *'' Scutellaria altamaha'' – pineland skullcap *'' Scutellaria altissima'' L. – Somerset skullcap, tall skullcap *'' Scutellaria amoena'' *'' Scutellaria anatolica'' *'' Scutellaria angustifolia'' – narrowleaf skullcap *'' Scutellaria antirrhinoides''

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

– nose skullcap *'' Scutellaria arenicola'' – Florida scrub skullcap *'' Scutellaria arguta'' – Blue Ridge skullcap *'' Scutellaria atriplicifolia'' *'' Scutellaria aurata'' *''

'' Georgi – Baikal skullcap, Chinese skullcap *''

Scutellaria barbata ''Scutellaria barbata'', the barbed skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Asia.

'' D.Don – barbed skullcap *'' Scutellaria bolanderi'' A.Gray – Sierra skullcap *'' Scutellaria brachyspica'' *'' Scutellaria brittonii'' – Britton's skullcap *'' Scutellaria bushii'' – Bush's skullcap *'' Scutellaria caerulea'' – blue skullcap *'' Scutellaria californica'' A.Gray – California skullcap *'' Scutellaria cardiophylla'' – gulf skullcap *'' Scutellaria columnae'' *'' Scutellaria costaricana'' H.Wendl. – scarlet skullcap, Costa Rican skullcap *'' Scutellaria drummondii'' – Drummond's skullcap *'' Scutellaria elliptica'' Muhl. – hairy skullcap *''

Scutellaria floridana ''Scutellaria floridana'', the Florida skullcap, is a rare species of flowering plant. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it is known only from the Florida Panhandle. It is threatened by a number of human activities and its smal ...

'' Chapm. – Florida skullcap *'' Scutellaria formosana'' *''

Scutellaria galericulata ''Scutellaria galericulata'', the common skullcap, marsh skullcap or hooded skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb native to northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and almost all of Canada. It is a member of the mint fami ...

'' L. – common skullcap, marsh skullcap *'' Scutellaria glabriuscula'' – Georgia skullcap *''

Scutellaria hastifolia ''Scutellaria hastifolia'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Its native range is Europe to Western Siberia and Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. ...

'' – spear-leaved skullcap *''

Scutellaria havanensis ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",Scutellaria hirta'' *'' Scutellaria hookeri'' *'' Scutellaria humilis'' *'' Scutellaria incana'' Biehler – downy skullcap, hoary skullcap *'' Scutellaria incarnata'' Vent. *'' Scutellaria indica'' L. *'' Scutellaria integrifolia'' L. – helmet flower *'' Scutellaria laevis'' – Culberson County skullcap *''

Scutellaria lateriflora ''Scutellaria lateriflora'', (commonly "blue skullcap", "mad dog skullcap",Scutellaria longifolia'' Benth. *'' Scutellaria longituba'' *'' Scutellaria meehanioides'' *'' Scutellaria mexicana'' *'' Scutellaria microphylla'' – littleleaf skullcap *''

Scutellaria minor ''Scutellaria minor'', the lesser skullcap, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. Description ''Scutellaria minor'' grows to tall, with narrowly ovate leaves arranged oppositely. Flowers are borne in the axils of the upper le ...

'' Huds. – lesser skullcap *'' Scutellaria montana'' Chapm. – mountain skullcap, large-flowered skullcap *'' Scutellaria multiglandulosa'' – Small's skullcap *'' Scutellaria muriculata'' – Rio Grande skullcap *'' Scutellaria nana'' A.Gray – dwarf skullcap *'' Scutellaria nervosa'' – veiny skullcap *'' Scutellaria novae-zelandaie'' *'' Scutellaria ocmulgee'' – Ocmulgee skullcap *''

Scutellaria orientalis ''Scutellaria orientalis'', also known as yellow-flowered skull cap or yellow helmet flower, is a species of alpine rhizomatous perennial belonging to the genus ''Scutellaria'', and classified under the family Lamiaceae. Description The deciduou ...

'' *'' Scutellaria ovata'' Hill – heart-leaved skullcap *'' Scutellaria parvula'' Michx. – small skullcap *''

Scutellaria pekinensis ''Scutellaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Mentha, mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin ''scutella'', meaning "a small dish, tray or platter",

References

External links

* * *
''Scutellaria'' images.
MorphBank. {{Authority control Lamiaceae genera Medicinal plants Anxiolytics Dopamine reuptake inhibitors GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus