On my daily walks this fall I observed the slow but steady progression of season foliage colors from deep green to yellow, to red and finally, to dull and dry muted browns and grays. By mid-December after several wind storms, most leaves—brown and crinkly-had fallen a week past to carpet the ground. So, on this day, against a bright blue sky, the fall of a single brown leaf, tumbling and gliding downward caught my eye. It came from thee top of a 60 foot White Oak (Quercus alba) tree. It floated with its dried up leaf-lobes curled up like ailerons or winglets on an airplane—floating toward my path.
I imagined its origin up on the tree top where its dry and brittle petiole, finally broke away to release its captive leaf and permit a gentle fall to earth. It sailed downward at first, then up, lofted up by a gust it fell again far from its once warm and sunny, tree-top perch.
The brown spent leaf twisted left and right, banking this way and that on a glide path controlled by the day’s blustery wind—-to drift past me—-just out of reach—and settle like a brown visitor onto an isolated patch of bright greenery—a common weed called: Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea). It is the only bit of greenery in the area, found nestled under the now bare branches of an overhanging Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
With the entire floral world around it having long given up its green, the ground-hugging, earth-creeping Ground Ivy (or Creeping Charlie, Gill on the Ground, Alehoof …) braves chill days and sub freezing nights to stay lively and verdant well into fall and early winter and is some places survives as an evergreen. Its rounded leaves—like a colt’s hoof print—are deeply veined and have scalloped edges. The leaves measure (here on Long Island) 2-3 inches across. They arise on opposite sides of a “lazy” horizontal stem which tends to droop toward ground (it’s prostrate) and grow or creep into adjoining areas hugging the warmer ground particularly important on these cold days.
Perhaps this habit gave rise to the alias “Creeping Charlie” (Creeping OK, but why Charlie?)
The plant grows in profusion in densely packed clumps which hug the ground and may help it conserve moisture and limit exposure to the chill air of the fall season. Glechoma patches dominate many a southern exposed patch of earth along my walking path. They are a pleasant sight of green among the brown, wind-bent grasses and dead spent and fallen leaves.
Glechoma is a member of the mint family Lamiacae and its squared stem and light blue to purple mint-like flowers are typical of the family. The blue flower which arise from the axil of the leaf petiole is a tubular shaped six-lobed flower. The larger lower two lobes are fused together to form what appears to be an entry “porch” for pollinators (?). While the two “upper” smaller lobes form the “roof” of the “porch”. The last two ear-like lobes appear on left and right of the “porch” to complete the petal-whorl. Beside its square stem and typical mint flowers the Creeping Charlie leaves have a distinctive “minty” fragrance, when they are crushed some describe as mid way between mint and sage, while others claim the fragrance as unpleasant. Though it is often the mature fall leaves that have been described that way
Glechoma (from Greek γλεκον = “mint)” Hederacae (from Latin = ‘like ivy’) is native of Europe and Asia and was traditionally used as flavoring and preserving for beer and ale. “Alehoof” another Glechoma alias, seems to suggest its use by those who used it for brewing. Alehoof or Creeping Charlie was also used as a home medicine to treat coughs and colds, and also as source of a high-vitamin-C tea. It was likely carried to the New World by early settlers who used as a home medicine. It is claimed to be edible, and used as a pot herb, as well as a substitute for peppermint and sage. However, I can think of no place where one could be sure that the plants have not been contaminated by pesticides or domestic pet wastes.
In England, where it had many uses Glechoma is known as “Alehoof” or sometimes “Alehoff” (the “hoff is German for “Ivy”). As a native plant it grew luxuriantly at the base of the common hedgerows surrounding pastures and farm fields, it flourished there in the moist soil and partial shade. Its young spring leaves were used as a pot herb, and were collected, dried and then powdered to make a pleasant minty tea. Its leaves were used to flavor beer or ale during the brewing procedure.
I enjoy seeing this lovely mint thrive in the fall and winter season—then appear among the first greenery in spring. During a winter thaw the plants often arise from a coating of snow as green as ever, giving a lively touch of color in the dull cold seasons. They remind us of how much we miss the greenery and also of the resilience and adaptability our floral coinhabitors of this planet of ours. They survive and even thrive in spite of our mismanagement and malfeasance as poor stewards of our planet. Creeping Charlie may out live us on this planet…think of it!
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