1607 Prunella vulgaris L. complex

This polymorphic and widespread species. is considered to originate from Europe and probably adjacent parts of Africa and Asia (subsp. vulgaris). In the southern half of Europe, the closely related P. laciniata L. occurs. From Europe the species has followed the settlement of man to several parts of the world, for instance to N., C. and S. America, SE. Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The native populations of E. Asia and N. America are distinguished as subsp. lanceolata (Bart.) Hult. In India subsp. hispida (Benth.) Hult. occurs. The species s. lat. belongs to the circumpolar plants (Hultén, Circumpol. Il, p. 366 and map 142). Cf. also Meusel et al. 1978, map p. 378.