BIFID HEMP-NETTLE

Galeopsis bifida

Mint / Dead-Nettle [Lamiaceae]

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Grows up to a metre high mainly in arable fields.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Extremely like Common Hemp-nettle with which it can hybridise.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Leaves light-green, in opposite pairs, lanceolate and toothed.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Mainly pinkish flowers (can be yellow) grow in small whorls at the ends of any stems. Stem branches off in opposite pairs just above a pair of leaves.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Flowers emerge from deeply toothed sepal tubes in a long conical whitish corolla tube at first, opening out at the end into two petals, an upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Flower usually pinkish, with redder stripes below the petals. Upper lip cowled houses the four stamens.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

lower lip is three-lobed; the two side lobes angled ±60° outwards and downwards; the central lobe haveing having a central nick which differentiates it from Common Hemp-nettle and gives rise to its Latin name bifid.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Central lower lip is saddle shaped, with two blunt spurs at the top projecting outwards and upwards. The magenta and yellow markings on the central lower lip are darker and more extensive than those on Common Hemp-nettle.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

The stems, often reddish, are square and hairy on all sides.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Longish white hairs.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Leaves also have longish white hairs. Two empty sepal tubes are shown, which house the seeds.

24th Aug 2011, an arable field, Rainford, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Obverse of leaves have prominent veins and mid-rib.

Hybridises with : Common Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit) to produce Galeopsis × ludwigii but the above photos are not the hybrid since the hybrid does not grow anywhere near the Rainford area.

Extremely similar to: Common Hemp-nettle but that never occurs in yellow, nor does it ever? have yellow markings. The identifying feature to differentiate the two is the nick in the central lower lip and the more extensive and darker markings on Bifid Hemp-nettle.

Not relation to : Stinging Nettle [a plant with similar name and similar leaves].

Not to be confused with : Dead-nettles such as Red Dead-Nettle which belong in differing Genera within the same Mint and Dead-nettle Family..

An annual which grows principally in arable fields. The seeds are of low fertility, only 20-30% and thus the plant does not spread as much as that of Common Hemp-nettle.

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Distribution
family8Mint / Dead-Nettle family8Lamiaceae

BSBI maps

Galeopsis
(Hemp-Nettles)