Chelone glabra, or White Turtlehead, is anative wildflowerthat grows in moist habitats and has white or pink flowers shaped like turtle heads.
The name chelone comes from the Greek word for tortoise, and glabra means smooth, referring to the hairless leaves and stems.
The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds but are pollinated mainly by bumblebees, which have to force their way into the tight corolla.
The plant has been used medicinally by Native Americans and early settlers for various ailments, such as rheumatism, liver problems, and skin infections.
The plant is also known as balmony, snakehead, shell flower, and rheumatism wort, among othercommon names.
Chelone glabra is related to snapdragons and penstemons and is a member of theplantain family(Plantaginaceae).
White Turtlehead is the only host plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly.
