Lamium amplexicaule L.

Henbit; Giraffe Head; Henbit Dead Nettle

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Henbit is an introduced winter annual in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It Alabama it can be found state wide. Henbit occurs in lawns, in fallow fields, on roadsides, and in other disturbed habitats. Like most members of the Mint family, Henbit has square stems and opposite leaves. There are usually several ascending stems from the base that grow from 6-12 inches tall. The stems may be green or red in color. The lower leaves are petiolate, orbicular in outline with crenate margins. The upper leaves are sessile and clasp the stem. The leaves are slightly hairy. Sessile flowers are produced in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are pubescent and bilabiate (having two lips). The lower lip is divided into two rounded lobes. Each lobe has a dark purple spot in its center. The upper lip is shaped like a hood. The outside of the corolla is pinkish purple. The inner portion is white with purple spots or lines. Henbit also produces inconspicuous cleistogamous flowers. These flowers never open and fertilize themselves. The fruit is composed of 4 nutlets. The nutlets are brown in color with small white spots. They are oblong in shape with one end being larger and more rounded than the other. Occasionally plants with white flowers are encountered. This color form has been designated as Lamium amplexicaule Linnaeus forma albiflorum D. M. Moore.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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