Henbit, Greater Henbit, Henbit Dead-Nettle

Lamium amplexicaule

(Lamium amplexicaule subsp. amplexicaule)

LAY-mee-um  am-pleks-ih-KAW-lee

Synonyms of Lamium amplexicaule (5) (Updated on 2-19-23 from Plants of the World Online): Neckeria amplexicaulis (L.) Forsyth f. (1794), Galeobdolon amplexicaule (L.) Moench (1794), Lamiella amplexicaulis (L.) E.Fourn. (1869), Lamiopsis amplexicaulis (L.) Opiz (1852), Pollichia amplexicaulis (L.) Willd. (1787)
Synonyms of Lamium amplexicaule subsp. amplexicaule (13)(Updated on 1-2-23 from POWO): Lamium amplexicaule f. albiflorum D.M.Moore (1941)(nom. illeg.), Lamium amplexicaule var. albiflorum Tubilla & Lázaro Ibiza (1880), Lamium amplexicaule f. albiflorum Y.N.Lee (2005)(nom. illeg.), Lamium amplexicaule var. album Pickens & Pickens (1960), Lamium amplexicaule var. arenicola P.Monts. (1958), Lamium amplexicaule var. breviflorum Coss. & Germ. (1845), Lamium amplexicaule var. calyciflorum Ten. (1831), Lamium amplexicaule var. clandestinum Rchb. (1830), Lamium amplexicaule var. cryptanthum Cariot (1884), Lamium lassithiense Coustur. & Gand. (1916), Lamium mesogaeon Heldr. ex Boiss. (1879), Lamium rumelicum Velen. (1891), Lamium stepposum Kossko ex Klokov (1960)

Lamium amplexicaule L. is the accepted scientific name for Henbit. The genus and species were named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

Accepted infraspecific names (6): Lamium amplexicaule var. aleppicum (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Bornm., Lamium amplexicaule subsp. amplexicaule (autonym), Lamium amplexicaule var. bornmuelleri Mennema, Lamium amplexicaule var. incisum Boiss., Lamium amplexicaule subsp. mauritanicum (Gand. ex Batt.) Maire, Lamium amplexicaule var. orientale (Pacz.) Mennema. When an infraspecific taxon is named, an autonym (“type-specimen”) is automatically generated whose description is closest to the (original) species. I am not sure how the species and autonyms can have different synonyms… 

As of 12-19-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 31 accepted species in the Lamium genus. The genus is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 232 accepted genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made by POWO.

The above distribution map of Lamium amplexicaule is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and purple is where it has been introduced. The USDA Plants Database map for North America is similar.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

Lamium amplexicaule is considered a winter annual that may begin flowering as early as February (depending on the winter). They have shallow taproots so they kind of fizzle out during the heat of the summer and go dormant. They return in the fall and might flower again.

I think the above photo, taken on February 21 (2020) is of young plants of Lamium amplexicaule. At this stage, they are very similar to Lamium purpureum (Deadnettle) but are easily distinguishable when they begin to flower. Glechoma hederaceum (Ground Ivy) also has very similar leaves but they don’t change. All three species grow together in the same areas and in the same conditions.

The above photo was taken on March 3 as some of the Henbit were beginning to flower. They are usually the second wildflowers to start blooming. The first was Veronica persicaria.

The leaves grow opposite one another on the stems. Lower leaves have long petioles (stems) while the upper leaves are sessile (without a petiole) and wrap around the stem. The upper leaves appear sort of frilly.

Lamium amplexicaule is sort of a sprawling plant that branches out at the base. I am not sure how long the stems could get since they are growing in the yard where I mow. Information online says they can grow up to 2 feet long. Lower portions of the stem are a reddish color but fade toward the top of some plants. The stems are 4-angled, hollow, and somewhat hairy (although they look smooth to me). They can also root from their leaf nodes.

This photo shows the leaves at the upper portion of the plant. They lack petioles (sessile) and wrap around the stems. The blue flowers in the photo are from Veronica persica (Bird’s Eye Speedwell)… Actually, they could be Wayside Speedwell (Veronica polita), I just haven’t figured it out quite yet. I kind of like the name Bird’s Eye better than Wayside…

Flowers are kind of tubular and have no petioles (sessile). They are produced at the top of the stem where the sessile leaves occur.

The stems produce 6-12 flowers that are approximately 1/2” long that are semi-erect. The upper lip is shaped like a hood while the lower lip is divided into two rounded lobes. Although their flowers are pollinated by insects, they occasionally produce cleistogamous (self-pollinating) flowers as well.

The outer surface of the corolla is a pinkish to purplish-pink color and the inner surface is white with purplish dots. The calyx is green, hairy, and has five teeth which I would love to get photos of… So far I have not been able to do that even using a magnifying glass. Practice makes perfect. 🙂 

Even though today was rainy, I went outside to take a few photos of the Lamium purpureum that had started to flower. While I was at it I took a photo of the two Lamium species for a comparison photo. The tubes of the flowers of Lamium amplexicaule are much longer (at this point anyway) and the flowers are darker, especially the hood.

Lamium amplexicaule can be somewhat of a problem for some. They can invade yards and create bare spots when they go dormant allowing other weeds to grow. They could also be a problem in flower beds and gardens but being shallow-rooted they are easy to pull up.

Lamium amplexicaule are easy to distinguish from Lamium purpureum (Dead Nettle) because of their sessile orbicular leaves that war around the stems. Lamium purpureum does not have sessile leaves and grows in kind of a pagoda shape during flowering. Glechoma hederacea (Ground Ivy), also similar, flower later, have wider flowers, and all their leaves have petioles.

There are a few more photos at the bottom of the page.

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the farm and in other areas. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the blog). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a horticulturalist I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MSU-MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
FLORA FINDER
EDIBLE WILD FOOD

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

MORE PHOTOS…