Wild Bergamot
Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lewis and Clark documented wild bergamot along the Missouri River corridor during the early stages of the expedition in 1804. This aromatic member of the mint family was already known to eastern botanists but was widely documented by Lewis in its western range. Native peoples used wild bergamot extensively for medicinal purposes, particularly for treating respiratory ailments and fevers.
Specimen Record
The journals do not mention this plant. It is documented by the herbarium specimen Lewis collected, labeled July 20, 1804, from the prairies along the Missouri (Lewis and Clark Herbarium, Academy of Natural Sciences).
Where it’s being seen today
10 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2018–2025. Most recent: 2025-08-03. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
