Trichostema suffrutescens
species of plant
Trichostema suffrutescens is a species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is endemic to northern and central Florida in the southeastern United States. The species was first described in the late 19th century and is currently accepted by major taxonomic authorities.
Taxonomy
Trichostema suffrutescens was formally described by Thomas Henry Kearney in 1894 in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. The name is accepted by Plants of the World Online. This species is currently treated as a synonym of Trichostema dichotomum by the Florida Plant Atlas, citing an overlap in leaf size between the two species. Morphological and genetic studies, however, have supported its recognition as a species separate from Trichostema dichotomum.
Description
Trichostema suffrutescens is a woody or semi-woody perennial herb, as indicated by the specific epithet suffrutescens. Like other members of the genus, it has opposite leaves, square stems, and bilaterally symmetrical flowers typical of the mint family. Detailed diagnostic morphological characters were provided in the original description and subsequent floristic treatments.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Trichostema suffrutescens” is species of plant. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Trichostema, suffrutescens and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of plant” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 30, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q15374517. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1894.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Trichostema suffrutescens”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Trichostema suffrutescens primary sources, Trichostema suffrutescens archive and Trichostema research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Trichostema suffrutescens”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Trichostema suffrutescens” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.