Lamium purpureum
L. Red Dead-nettleAnnual herb; branches often red-tinged, weakly to moderately decurved-pubescent. Leaves broadly ovate, 1–5 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, surfaces pilose, apex obtuse to rounded, base usually cordate, margin crenate to serrate; petiole 1–4 cm long (but often very reduced on bracts). Lower internode(s) of inflorescence usually apparent, upper ones usually obscured; flowers mostly 5–8 per bract. Calyx 10–15-veined, 5–7 mm long, with short, stiff hairs mostly along veins and margin, lobes 3–4.5 mm long; corolla 10–20 mm long, reddish-purple with paler spots on abaxial lip, tube longer than calyx, corolla-lips shorter than tube, median lobe of abaxial lip narrowly spathulate, lateral lobes broad and scarcely distinct, adaxial lip bilobed. Flowers Aug.–Oct.
GipP, CVU, HSF, HNF, VAlp. Also naturalised SA, Tas., New Zealand. Native almost throughout Europe. A garden-escaped weed, recorded in Victoria only from Vermont, Daylesford and Alexandra areas.
Conn, B.J. (1999). Lamiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 418–459. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
