Common bugle

Appearance

"Ajuga reptans" has dark green leaves with purple highlights. It is a spreading ground cover that grows in a dense mat. The leaves grow 5–8 cm high but in the spring it sends up 10–15 cm tall flower stalks with many purple flowers on them. The flowers are frequently visited by flies, such as "Rhingia campestris".

Distribution

Common in Ireland,and throughout Great Britain.

Habitat

Woods and rough pastures.

Uses

Bugle is also known as "carpenter's herb" due to its supposed ability to stem bleeding.

Bugle is a primary nectar source of the pearl-bordered fritillary and the small pearl-bordered fritillary. It is a secondary nectar source of the brimstone, chequered skipper, common blue, cryptic wood white, dingy skipper, Duke of Burgundy, green-veined white, grizzled skipper, heath fritillary, holly blue, large blue, large skipper, large white, marsh fritillary, orange-tip, painted lady, small white, and wood white butterflies.

"Ajuga reptans" herb has been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as a tea for the treatment of disorders related to the respiratory tract.