Small, Fuzzy Leaves That Smell Like Lemon?

8 years ago

This plant has fuzzy leaves about ~1/2" long that are very strongly lemon-scented (like lemon Pine-Sol) when crushed. There's 2 slightly different leaf types shown here, but I think the wider leaves may just be newer growth, and the thinner leaves the more mature growth (of the same plant)? As the wider leaves definitely had the lemon scent, and I believe the thinner ones too (but perhaps not as strongly).

Or I could be wrong, and they could be 2 entirely different plants. But either way, at least 1 or both are very strongly lemon-scented!

So, any idea what this little plant could be??? :o

Featured Answer

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

My guess is that it is a Hedeoma... H. reverichonii or a H. drummondii . They are a false pennyroyal or Mock Pennyroyal. In the mint family . Beautiful smell. They have very small flowers in spring. Some people do call it lemoncillo. not to be confused with all the other lemoncillos. They love our caliche limestone crud. I just bought a relative of it last spring that has much larger flowers , larger mound, , H. hyssopifolia. I think it is a Arizona wildflowers from sky mountain around Tuscon area. 2 out of three lived through the brutal Central Texas summer with minimal care.

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Comments (8)

linaria_gw
8 years ago
hi blakrab

sorry, no ID,

but I think it more likely that those are 2 different plants. I can`t think of a scenario that woulc cause so different degrees of hairyness/hirsutism in the same plant, leaf shape is different as well...
linaria_gw
8 years ago
the small hairy one reminds me of some starved Cerastium arvense, but not sure whether this is an option on that dry looking spot
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jekeesl (south-central Arkansas)
8 years ago
I think that linaria is on the right track. The plant with the broader leaves looks pretty typical for early-season Cerastium glomeratum, which is emerging now in southern States.
blakrab Centex
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hmm, I don't think they are Field Chickweed...as the wide-leafed one seems more velvety, and with rounded tips...

But the narrow-leafed one definitely looks like Hedeoma drummondii (Limoncillo), though. Which is in fact even named for its trademark scent: "The crushed citrus-smelling leaves of this plant explain the origin of the common names limoncillo and mock pennyroyal. The common name of Limoncillo is applied to several lemon scented plants."

The wide-leafed one may also very likely be Hedeoma reverchonii (Reverchon's false pennyroyal), which has less available info about it - but I would assume has similar properties.

This could explain why both plants smelled like lemon, yet confusingly looked a little different!
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think that it is one hedeoma . they seem to get different leaves at different stages of growth. I could be wrong. I hadn't thought about it being two hedeomas . Also they could be variability in the species and it could be an intergrade between the two. A genetic storm of hedeomas. They are quite prolific. Watch them through the spring. They will form mounds and the tiny flowers will be almost unseen except when backlit by light.
blakrab Centex thanked wantonamara Z8 CenTex
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I corrected the above tidbit. Frenetic storm should be genetic storm. I think the fat leaves are new spring growth and the thin leaves are from last years growth. I could be wrong . They are very ubiquitous in my scree. I like them but I do spend some time pulling them out where I don't want them. They grow without my help....get the picture. I do like them ,...but I like the Arizona one better. That one grows from cuttings, I have discovered.
blakrab Centex thanked wantonamara Z8 CenTex
blakrab Centex
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
OK, with the flowers shown this year...Hedeoma drummondii is now confirmed (for the narrow-leafed specimen)!