Pycnanthemum californicum
| Pycnanthemum californicum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Pycnanthemum |
| Species: | P. californicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pycnanthemum californicum Torr. ex Durand | |
Pycnanthemum californicum is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Sierra mint. It is endemic to California, where it grows in mountains and foothills throughout the state, in chaparral, woodland, forest, and other habitat. It is a perennial herb growing erect one half to one meter in height, with hairless to fuzzy, aromatic herbage. The oppositely arranged leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval, each a few centimeters long. The inflorescences are located in clusters about the stem just above each upper pair of leaves. Each flower has a whitish upper lip and a purplish lower lip, sometimes with spots.