Monarda

Monarda

I believe this to be Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, but I am not certain. It is a Monarda, and the habitat matches the dry fields that fistulosa prefers. Other common Mondarda species in the northeast U.S. prefer wetter soils. This was widespread in a large, dry field that has in recent years been converting from agriculture to wild meadow. It is apparently mowed once a year or so, but no other controls are evident. I have not encountered wild bergamot in the wild. In such a setting, it is hard to know whether some other similar but non-native species has cropped up. There was so much of it all through a very large field that I’m not fully committed to the identification. Who knew botany could be so nerve-wracking!

This is image was taken with a Nikon D90 and a Micro-Nikkor 60mm AF f/2.8 lens. Taken at ISO 720, f/8, 1/200 sec.

Here’s a wider perspective of the plant.

Monarda Plant

Monarda Plant

2 thoughts on “Monarda

  1. Pingback: Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa | Nantahala Natives

  2. Pingback: Bergamot ~ bee balm | Joyful Restoration

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