Plant:    Purple Dead Nettle  
                      
Name:   Lamium purpurem

Description:
Family:  Mint (Labiatae)
Growth Form:   Annual herb from fibrous roots.
Stems:  Sprawling or ascending, usually branched nearthe base, usually slightly hairy, up to 15 inches long.
Leaves:  Opposite, simple, broadly ovate, rounded at the tip, heart-shaped at the base, round toothed, usually slightly hairy, up to 1 inch broad, the lowest leaves on long stalks.
Flower Arrangement: Several flowers in both terminal and auxillary clusters.
Flowers:  Purplish, up to 1/2 inch long, without stalks.  
Petals:   Composed of a 3-lobed lip and a 2-lobed lip, united below into a tube.
Stamens:  2
Pistil:  Ovary superior, 4-parted; style 2-cleft.
Fruits:  A cluster of 4 nutlets.
Discussion:  It flowers from April to October.  They are closely related to the cleavers, curly dock, and black nightshade.
Image:
           
Location:
Habitat:  Disturbed areas
Range:  Throughout the state, but uncommon in the northern counties.
Waypoint: 
N 38 degrees 34.755 minutes
W 89 degrees 04.146 minutes
Elevation 475 feet



© Copyright 2004, Odin Public School #700, all rights reserved.
Photos courtesy: Odin Tech Prep Team 2004
Project courtesy: Grant Arnold, Deniz Hawley, Kristen Minor, Brian Deadmond

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