Henbit
August 11, 2015
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EmailLamium amplexicaule L.
Life cycle
Square-stemmed winter annual.
Leaves
Cotyledons are oval in outline and notched at the base where the hairy petioles attach. Opposite, circular to heart-shaped, hairy leaves have rounded teeth along the margins. Prominent, palmately veined leaves give a crinkled leaf surface. Lower leaves are attached by long petioles; upper leaves lack petioles and encircle the stem.
Henbit seedling (left), and leaf (right).
Stems
Square, hairy, spreading stems with many ascending branches from the base can root at the lower nodes. Stems are up to 16 inches tall.
Flowers and fruit
Pink to purple flowers in a two-lipped tube form in whorls in the upper leaf axils. Each flower produces four egg-shaped, one-seeded, grayish brown and speckled nutlets.
Henbit flowers (left). Close-up of henbit flower (right).
Reproduction
Seeds.
Similar weeds
Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.) Differs by having more triangle-shaped leaves, upper leaves with petioles and red to purple coloration.
Purple foliage and flowers of purple deadnettle.
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