Unknown # 41 A European herb that is naturalized throughout southern California. The flowers occur in dense, glomerate heads in the leaf axils. Like many other members of the mint family (Lamiaceae), the stems are square in cross section. Hooked spines on the persistent calyces readily cling to clothing and disperse the enclosed seeds (nutlets). Candy (right) is made from a boiled infusion of fresh leaves plus a lot of sugar. A dried plant in the summer. This European herb is naturalized throughout southern California. The persistent calyces occur in dense, glomerate clusters along 4-sided stems. Each calyx (red arrow) has 10 hooked spines, one for each lobe. The dried calyces, each enclosing four one-seeded nutlets, readily attach to your socks and are very effective hitchhikers.  Recipe For Candy Made From This Herb   Wayne's Word Top 17 Hitchhiking Plants   Return To Table Of Plant Unknowns  All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong