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Monarda fistulosa, or also known as horsemint, bergamot, or bee balm is in the mint family (Lamiaceae [Labiatae]). An excerpt from "Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie" by Runkel and Roosa: The Winnebago boiled the leaves to secure an oil they used to treat pimples and similar skin eruptions. The Blackfoot applied boiled leaves for the same purpose. The Meskwaki used the plant in a mixture to cure colds. Navajos and early pioneers made a tea of horsemint to treat fevers, sore throat, colds, and headache. Other American Indians used a warm liquid from the boiled leaves to bathe a patient suffering from chills. The aromatic dried herb was boiled to produce vapors for bronchial ailments. A tea of the roots was used to treat stomach disorders." This plant will flower from July to September and provide forage for an array of pollinators. #prairiestrips #iowaag
