any of about 250 species of plants belonging to the genus Teucrium, which is a worldwide genus of the mint family (Lamiaceae), order Lamiales. American germander (T. canadense) of North America has slender spikes of purple to cream flowers on stems 90 cm (3 feet) tall. Native in Europe but naturalized in North America, wood sage (T. scorodonia) bears yellow flowers. Tree germander (T. fruticans), a shrub growing to 1.5 metres (5 feet), has scattered pale blue to lilac flowers and lance-shaped leaves. It is native on hillsides of coastal Europe.