Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

Click on the link below to find out more about this plant in the Mint Family:
  • wild bergamot​

How can I recognize a member of the mint family?
​A combination of square stems, simple opposite leaves, and irregularly shaped flowers often indicates a mint; many also have aromatic foliage and blossoms.​

Cool stuff to know about mints:
Many kitchen spices, such as basil, rosemary, lavender, thyme, and sage, belong to the mint family. Menthol oil is derived from various mint species, including peppermint.​

Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae)


  • elderberry​

wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Insect oasis
As in all showy, scented flowers with lots of nectar they attract many species of butterflies, bees, moths, and other insects to pollinate the flower, allowing seeds to be produced. Hummingbirds will also take nectar and transfer pollen. Certain bees “cheat” and cut a hole in the base of the flower to get at the nectar without pollinating it.
 
A cup of tea anyone?
This common mint on our prairies, as most mints, can​ be used in teas or to flavor other foods.

Scientific name origin
The common name, bergamot, got its name because the smell of crushed leaves was similar to a citrus grown in Europe called bergamot orange (from a town nearby, Bergamo). It is also called bee balm.
 
The word Monarda is honoring Dr. Nicolas Monardes of Italian descent living in Spain who wrote the first herbal of American plants in 1577. He had a garden full of them though he never left Spain. The specific name fistulosa is Latin meaning “pipe or tube” perhaps from the flowers or the hollow stem.

elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

​Berry good!
Elderberry is famous for the fruits being made into wine or added to other fruits for jelly or pie. The flowers flavor syrups and unopened flower buds have been pickled as substitutes for capers. Folk medicine traditions have suggested other uses. Do not eat the berries raw, for they contain toxins!

This beautiful white flowering shrub can be very common and spreading. Note the interesting pinnately compound leaves growing opposite on the warty-barked stems. Beetles and bees can be attracted to the flowers but not as many species as other flowers.

Scientific name origin
Sambucus is Latin for elderberry.

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Map & Directions

8772 S. Lowden Road  (mailing address)            
2075 Lowden Road (Visitor Center)           
Franklin Grove, IL 61031

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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2024
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Guided Hikes
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie >
      • Yearly Festival
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Workday Email List
    • Volunteer Recognition
    • Docents
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Weed Reports
    • Native plant resources
    • Volunteer Stewards
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Resource Links
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2025
    • 2025 Science Symposium Abstracts
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2025
      • Science Grants 2021 to 2024 >
        • Science Grants 2024
        • Science Grants 2023
        • Science Grants 2022
        • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2016 to 2020 >
        • Science Grants 2020
        • Science Grants 2019
        • Science Grants 2018
        • Science Grants 2017
        • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2011 to 2015 >
        • Science Grants 2015
        • Science Grants 2014
        • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Anderson Science Award
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Nachusa Staff
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • Websites of Interest
  • Teacher Resources
    • K-2nd grades
    • 3rd-5th grades
    • 6th-8th grades
    • High School
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs