henbit plant

Henbit – Lamium amplexicaule

Lamium amplexicaule L.

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

 

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Square-stemmed winter annual.

Leaves

Cotyledons are oval in outline and notched at the base where the hairy petioles attach. Opposite, circular to heart-shaped, hairy leaves have rounded teeth along the margins. Prominent, palmately veined leaves give a crinkled leaf surface. Lower leaves are attached by long petioles; upper leaves lack petioles and encircle the stem.

Stems

Square, hairy, spreading stems with many ascending branches from the base can root at the lower nodes. Stems are up to 16 inches tall.

Flowers and fruit

Pink to purple flowers in a two-lipped tube form in whorls in the upper leaf axils. Each flower produces four egg-shaped, one-seeded, grayish brown and speckled nutlets.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Similar weeds

Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.)
Differs by having more triangle-shaped leaves, upper leaves with petioles and red to purple coloration.

Henbit flower
Henbit flower
Close up of Henbit flower
Close-up of Henbit flower
Henbit leaf
Henbit leaf
Henbit seedling
Henbit seedling

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Tag List
  • annual,
  • msu plant & pest diagnostics,
  • winter annual

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