Lamium amplexicaule
L. Dead NettleAnnual herb; stems glabrescent or with scattered decurved hairs. Leaves broadly ovate, 7–20 mm long, 10–25 mm wide, surfaces pilose, apex obtuse to rounded, base cordate to truncate, margin crenate and/or lobed; lower leaves petiole 1–5 cm long, upper leaves sessile and usually stem-clasping. Lower internodes of inflorescence usually distant, upper internodes very short, sometimes obscured; flowers mostly 1–5 per bract. Calyx 10–15-veined, 5–7 mm long, densely hairy, lobes 3–4.5 mm long; corolla (6–)14–20 mm long, pale pink to rose-coloured, usually spotted darker, pubescent outside, tube much longer than calyx, corolla-lips shorter than tube, median lobe of abaxial lip lobe narrowly spathulate, lateral lobes broad and scarcely distinct, upper lip entire. Flowers Jul.–Nov.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, EGU. A common weed of cultivated, usually irrigated, areas of the north-west of the State.
A cause of 'staggers' in stock if consumed in quantity.
Apparently cleistogamous plants with corollas not exceeding calyces (formerly referred to var. clandestinum) occur through the range of the species (both here and in its countries of origin).
Spinning
