Lamium amplexicaule L.

Annual herb with hairy or nearly glabrous, ± erect stems to c. 30 cm, but often < 5 cm high in dry situations. Petioles long and slender. Lamina 5–20 × 5–20 mm, ovate or oblong-ovate, crenate, sometimes more deeply cut, sparsely to moderately clothed in usually ± appressed hairs; base broad-cuneate, truncate to cordate. Bracts to c. 2.5 × 2 cm, very broadly ovate, hairy; base cordate, amplexicaul. Calyx 5–7 mm long, with ± silky tomentum; teeth linear-subulate, c. = tube. Corolla c. 15 mm long, pinkish purple; tube erect, narrow, long-exserted, glabrous inside; upper lip 3–5 mm long, tomentose outside, with 3 purple blotches inside; lateral lobes of lower lip 0 (sometimes fls cleistogamous and corolla remaining closed and included in calyx). Nutlets 1.8–2.2 mm long, patterned white, sharply angled.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug.–Jan.