Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule
Life Cycle
Annual or winter annual.
Propagation
Reproducing only by seed.
Stems
The stems are square, finely hairy, erect, 10-40cm high. Stems of henbit are much-branched near the base, the branches spreading and then becoming erect.
Leaves
Leaves opposite (2 per node), lower ones long-stalked, broad, rounded to somewhat heart-shaped with coarsely lobed or irregularly toothed margins. The upper leaves are stalkless, broad-based, more or less clasping the stem.
Flowers and Fruit
Flowers in clusters in axils of these broad, stalkless, upper leaves. The calyx is small, tubular, 5-ribbed, with 5 small, sharp but soft teeth. The corolla is pinkish or purplish, 12-18mm long, of 5 united petals, irregular, tubular, 2-lipped at the end, the upper lip arched and with a tuft of hair on the top but not lobed, lower lip 2-lobed. Flowers in spring and early summer and occasionally again in late summer and autumn.
Habitat
Henbit occurs throughout southern Ontario in gardens, waste places and roadsides.
Distinguishing Features
It is distinguished by its annual, erect branching habit, its square stems, its opposite leaves, the lower ones long-stalked, the upper ones stalkless, broad, and clasping the stem, and its clusters of pinkish to purplish flowers in the axils of the broad upper leaves.
Figure #1.
Mature plant
Figure #2.
2 leaf seedling
Figure #3.
Henbit stem with 2 opposite leaves that clasp the stem giving a "whorl-like" appearance
Figure #4.
Henbit stem axils with clustered purple flowers
Figure #5.
Henbit flower
