Plant & Pest Diagnostics

Lamium purpureum L. 

Lamiaceae family (Mint family)

MI Status

Non-native                 

Life Cycle

Winter annual

Leaves 

Leaves are opposite, triangular to ovate, and are covered in soft hairs.  Young leaves at the apex are usually tinted purple while lower mature leaves are green.  Leaves are deeply veined and have scalloped margins.  Petioles are short. 

Stems

Unbranched stems are square and largely glabrous.  The lower portion of the stem is often devoid of leaves. 

Flowers and fruit

Whorls of flowers occur above the leaf axils, and a terminal whorl of flowers occurs at the top of each stem.  Flowers are tubular and are purple to pink in color.  The lower lip is divided into 2 rounded lobes.  Each flower produces 4 nutlet seeds. 

Reproduction

Seed