- Lamium purpureum
Taxobox
name = Red Deadnettle
image_width = 250px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Lamiales
familia =Lamiaceae
genus = "Lamium "
species = "L. purpureum"
binomial = "Lamium purpureum"
binomial_authority = L.Red Deadnettle or Purple Deadnettle ("Lamium purpureum") is a herbaceous
flowering plant native toEurope andAsia .It grows to 5-20 cm (rarely 30 cm) in height. The leaves are green at the bottom and shade to purplish at the top; they are 2-4 cm long and broad, with a 1-2 cm petiole (leaf stalk), and wavy to serrated margins.
The
flower s are bright red-purple, and may be produced throughout the year, including mild weather in winter. This allowsbee s to gather itsnectar for food when few other nectar sources are available. It is also a prominent source ofpollen for bees in March/April (in UK), when bees need the pollen as protein to build up their nest.It is often found alongside
Henbit Deadnettle ("Lamium amplexicaule"), which is easily mistaken for it since they both have similar looking leaves and similar bright purple flowers; they can be distinguished by the "stalked" leaves of Red Deadnettle on the flower stem, compared to the "unstalked" leaves of Henbit Deadnettle.Though superficially similar to a
nettle in appearance, it is not related and does not sting, hence the name "deadnettle".Outside of its native range, it is a common
weed of cultivated areas; it is listed as aninvasive species in some parts ofNorth America .Young plants have edible tops and leaves, good in salads or in stirfry as a spring vegetable. If finely chopped it can also be used in sauces.
Undyed, the pollen itself is a red colour.
External links
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4763,4765 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LAPU2 USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Lamium+purpureum Photo gallery]
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