Common Hemp Nettle

(Galeopsis tetrahit)

While not native to North America, some species of the Galeopsis genus were introduced and have become naturalized throughout much of the United States and Canada. The species which have become naturalized to the US are G. bifida, G. ladanum, and G tetrahit. We will look at G, tetrahit, as it is the most widespread of all introduced species.

Other Names:
hempnettle, brittlestem hempnettle

Range:
Non-Native

Family:
Lamiaceae - Mint Family

Growth Type:
Herbaceous annual

Height:
Can grow to 1 meter in height

Leaves:
Like other mints, the pale green stalked leaves are arranged opposite. The leaves are up to 2.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. They are hairy and ovate with a long tapered tip and with regular large teeth on the margin.

Stem/Trunk:
The stem branches occasionally and is squarish and hairy, with glandular hairs on the upper part of the plant. The stems are swollen below the leaf nodes.

Root:
A rhizome

Flower Season:
June - September

Flower Appearance:
The inflorescence forms a terminal spike and is composed of whorls of approximately 6 pinkish flowers with dark markings on the lower lip. The calyx has five sharp-pointed lobes and the corolla forms a two-lipped flower about 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 in) long with a fused tube. The upper lip of each flower is convex with dense, glandular hairs and the lower lip is three-lobed, the central lobe being the largest, squarish with a flat or rounded edge. There are four stamens, two long and two short, the gynoecium has two fused carpels

Seed/Fruit:
The flower heads dry to dark brown as fruit matures. Each flower produces a four-chambered schizocarp with each chamber containing a single seed.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
The plant has a slightly unpleasant smell.

Habitat:
G. tetrahit is a pioneer species which prefers the disturbed soils of sunny logging clearances, waste areas, and gardens

Parts Used:
Aerial parts of the plant

Culinary Uses:
None Known

Energetics
Taste: Pungent
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
The plant is antispasmodic, detergent, expectorant and resolvent. It is used in the treatment of tissue-wasting complaints. An infusion of the plant is used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints such as hayfever, asthma, bronchitis, and to remove stubborn mucus.

Medicinal Actions:
Astringent, Diuretic, Expectorant