Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, meadows.  Summer.
Haviland Lake, June 28, 2004.

At lower elevations and in Spruce and Aspen forests Prunella vulgaris is common. In fact its species name, "vulgaris" means "common".  But Prunella is usually passed by because it is such a small, slender plant.  A close look will reveal lovely, tiny, purple/lavender flowers in the arching swirls characteristic of the Mint family.

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.  The word "Prunella" is either from the Latin for "purple" (as in the fruit "prune"), or from the German word "Braune" and then the English cognate, "Brunella".  "Braune" is "quinsy", a form of tonsillitis which Prunella was thought to cure.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, meadows.  Summer.
Haviland Lake, June 28, 2004.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands, meadows.  Summer.
Navajo Lake Trail, June 11, 2006.