Henbit

(Lamium amplexicaule)

Other Names:
Greater henbit

Range: Invasive Species


Family:
Lamiaceae - Mint Family

Growth Type:
A sprawling herbaceous annual

Height:
The plant can reach up to 16 inches in height.

Leaves:
The rounded, oppositely arranged, leaves are 3/4 - 1-1/4 inch wide, and will typically have lobed margins. The lower leaves are stalked, while the upper leaves clasp the stem. These upper leaves are often fused together giving them the appearance of growing around the stem.

Stem/Trunk:
The square stems are softly pubescent (hairy).

Root:
Spreading root mass

Flower Season:
This plant flowers very early in the spring even in northern areas, and for most of the winter and the early spring in warmer locations.

Flower Appearance:
The flowers are relatively large and form a few-flowered terminal spike with axillary whorls. The calyx is regular with five lobes and closes up after flowering. The corolla is purplish-red, fused into a tube 15 to 20 mm (1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in) long. The upper lip is convex, 3 to 5 mm (1⁄8 to 3⁄16 in) long and the lower lip has three lobes, two small side ones and a larger central one 1.5 to 2.5 mm (1⁄16 to 1⁄8 in) long. There are four stamens, two long and two short.

Seed/Fruit:
The fruit is a four-chambered schizocarp.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A

Habitat:
It is found growing in open areas, gardens, fields, and meadows.

Parts Used:
Culinary: Young leaves and shoots as well as the stems and flowers.
Medicinal: Aerial parts of the plant.

Culinary Uses:
The young shoots, stems, leaves, and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. The plant has a pleasantly sweet, peppery flavor.

Energetics
Taste: Sweet/Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Like Lamium purpureum, dead nettle, henbit can be used for the treatment of hypertension, scrofula, paralysis, prostate, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, uterine hemorrhage, leucorrhea, trauma, and fracture.

Medicinal Actions:
Antirheumatic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Febrifuge, Laxative, Stimulant