GENESIS NAME: Lamium purpureum DISTRIBUTION: They originated in Europe and Asia, but are found throughout the U.S. SEASON: These plants can bloom in all seasons. MEDICAL USE: The whole plant is astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, purgative and styptic. In terms of traditional medicinal uses, dried leaves have been used as a poultice to stem hemorrhaging whilst fresh bruised leaves have been applied to external wounds and cuts. The leaves are also made into a tea and drunk to promote perspiration and discharge from the kidneys in treating chills. POISONOUS: No EDIBILITY:Red Dead-Nettle is edible (as are the similar species mentioned above). You can use Red Dead-Nettle as per White Dead-Nettle, Lamium album and the leaves and flowering tops are great in salads. Unlike White Dead-nettle, there doesn't seem to be the tendency for the leaves to become bitter with age. FEATURES: The stems are square, with a smooth texture. Purplish flowers have a top hooded petal with 2 lower lip petals. May be produced throughout the year. Sessile in whorls in the leave axils. They can self pollinate, and the flowers are hermaphrodite. Purple Dead-nettle is usually considered a weed and originates from Europe and Asia. It is low growing and blooms occur throughout the year including warmer weather in winter. It can be found in lawns, along roads, gardens and meadows. It is often confused with Henbit and they can grow together. Henbit has stemless leaves. Prefers full sun to light shade and moist fertile soil. The foliage is little bothered by disease and insect pests. This plant develops quickly during the cool weather of spring. This plant is a winter or summer annual (usually the former) that is unbranched and ½–2½' tall. The central stem is strongly 4-angled and largely glabrous. The lower third of the stem in a mature plant is often devoid of leaves. The opposite leaves are up to 2" long and across. They are densely crowded together along the stem, each pair of leaves rotating 90° from the pair of leaves immediately below or above. Young leaves at the apex of the stem are tinted purple, but they become dull green with maturity. The leaves are broadly cordate or deltoid, crenate along their margins, and finely pubescent. Their petioles are short. The upper surface of each leaf has a reticulated network of indented veins, creating a wrinkly appearance. Sessile whorls of flowers occur above the leaf axils, and a terminal whorl of flowers occurs at the apex of the stem. Each tubular flower is about ½" long and has well-defined upper and lower lips. The lower lip is divided into 2 rounded lobes, and there are insignificant side lobes that are reduced in size to small teeth. The corolla is purplish pink, pink, or white – the upper lobe is usually a darker color than the lower lobe, which is often white with purple spots. The tubular calyx is green or purplish green, and has 5 slender teeth that spread outward slightly. The blooming period usually occurs during mid- to late spring and lasts about 1½ months, although plants that are summer annuals may bloom during the fall. Each flower is replaced by 4 nutlets. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant occasionally forms dense colonies by reseeding itself. LEAVES: Crowded heart-shaped leaves tend to overlap; upper leaves are often purplish with greenish undersides and hairy. Short petioles. Wavy to serrated margins. FRUIT: Like many in the dead nettle family, this plant produces four tiny nutlets. Parts used: Leaves, flowering tops and flowers.