#scullcap

I have been keeping an eye on the heartleaf skullcap all season waiting for it to flower, which I read is the best time to harvest it. It’s been popping up on the Wildflowers of Arkansas Facebook page for a week or so now, so we plan on heading out this afternoon to see what we can find. Though Scutellaria lateriflora is the one mentioned most often in the literature, it was common for both Native Americans and settlers to use whichever skullcaps were in their region interchangeably. Below, I have quoted Rewild Alabama about ovata specifically and linked to another source below that, which refers to ovata as medicinal but gives no further information. Below these are more generic resources on skullcaps.

The first photo is alongside Lake Dardanelle and the second is later in the spring in the Ouachitas.

From Rewild Alabama Facebook page:

Heartleaf skullcap is known for its distinctive heart-shaped leaves and vibrant blue to violet flowers. It thrives in woodland settings, shaded gardens, and along stream banks, making it a versatile addition to both natural and cultivated landscapes.

This plant not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also offers significant ecological and wildlife benefits:

Its flowers are a rich nectar source for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

It is a favorite of bumblebees and serves as a great nectar source in late winter and early spring for these threatened friends.

Additionally, the flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, especially Anthophorine bees. Short-tongued bees and Syrphid flies may also visit the flowers, although they are too small to be effective pollinators.

The leaves of this species serve as a food source for several insect species including the Skeletonizing leaf beetle (Phyllobrotica limbata), the Shiny Flea Beetle (Asphaera lustrans), Skullcap Skeletonizer Moth (Prochoreutis inflatella) larvae, and Caloptilia scutellariella moth larvae.

This species has long-standing medicinal uses as well. Heartleaf skullcap is considered a nervine herb, which means it supports the nervous system. It has been traditionally used by Native Americans, early settlers, and folk herbalists to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and nervous tension.

Secondary source:

https://medivetus.com/botanic/?s=Scutellaria+ovata

Skullcaps more generally:

(Scutellaria lateriflora, S. galericulata) Safe to interact with.

Folk Names: Greater Scullcap, Helmet Flower, Hoodwort, Madweed, Quaker Bonnet. Gender: Feminine. Planet: Saturn. Element: Water. Powers: Love, Fidelity, Peace.

Magical Uses: Scullcap is used in spells of relaxation and peace. A woman who wears scullcap protects her husband against the charms of other women.

Also known as helmet flower, quaker bonnet, and hoodwort, skullcap or scullcap is a perennial plant with a light green to reddish green square stem and serrated leaves that grows from 45 to 60 centimeters tall. Its blue-lavender flowers are hooded, tube-shaped, and two-lipped, and bloom from May to August. The herb is often found in wet, partially-shaded areas in North America. It prefers light shade to full sun and damp soil with plenty of organic matter.

Skullcap was historically used by the tribes of North America to treat rabies and schizophrenia and as an emmenagogue to bring young girls into womanhood, as well as being taken in large doses to bring about spiritual visions during ceremonies. The herb has sedative qualities and is useful in treating nervous disorders, withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilizers, asthma, and certain kinds of headaches. Medicinal infusions can also promote menustration.

In witchcraft, scullcap is used in pillows to promote relaxing, peaceful sleep (it can also be used as a natural sleep aid). Women can wear scullcap to keep their husbands faithful, it can be placed as a pinch in a lover’s shoes to avert the charms of others, and the herb can be used to bind oaths as well as to consecrate vows and commitments. It is used in bath magick to calm the aura, and burned to relieve disharmony.

Part 1

Recreationally, skullcap is usually consumed as tea, although smoking is far from uncommon. I tested via both approaches, with each providing a heady sedation. Contrary to most reports, I found smoking to have a more intense effect, although this could have been linked to the age of my particular sample. Note that the effects continued into the night, with sleep having the same heady quality to it. Finally, bear in mind that there are a number of varieties of scutellaria, carrying different levels of potency.