Hybridizes with : Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor) to produce Scutellaria × hybrida, which now only grows just south of London and near Portsmouth.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : The twinned bluishish flowers sitting just above a pair of opposite leaves on a square stem, both flowers pointing in the same direction.

Very similar to: Lesser Skullcap, but that is half the height with pinkish-lilac rather than sky blueish flowers. The flowers are also about half the size.

Skullcap grows on the edges of canals, or by fresh water. Like Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor) it also likes wet grassy places.

FLAVONOIDS in SKULLCAP Apigenin is a flavone which is responsible for the cancer prevention characteristics of several vegetables and fruits. It puts mammalian cells into autophagia, a kind of protective dormancy. Apigenin is a potent inhibitor of an enzyme responsible for the metabolization of many pharmaceutical drugs within the human body, so should be regarded with care. It also induces resistance against chemotherapy. Hispidulin is another flavone, this one can traverse the blood-brain barrier and has anti-convulsive effects. It is a moderator of central nervous system activity. Luteolin, another flavone, is a free-radical scavenger and is thought to play a role as an anti-oxidant when in the human body where it moderates the immune system. It is most often found in the leaves of plants, but is also found in Celery, Dandelion, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Peppermint, Oregano and Carrots. Skullcaps are well known for their rich variety and abundance of flavonoids, to which are ascribed most of their medicinal properties. The flavonoids include Apigenin, Hispidulin, Luteolin, Scutellarein and its glycoside Scutellarin (being Scutellarein-7-glucuronide). The first four are flavones. Scutellarin can be decomposed into Scutellarein on hydrolysis. Like Lesser Skullcap, it smells faintly aromatic.

Skullcap also contains the iridoid glycoside Catalpol.