White Labiates
What are they?
These species are all members of the Lamiaceae, the Labiate family. Within this very variable family, there are a number of blue or purple-flowered species which vary greatly in leaf shape and form, but which are similar in flower colour and in flower structure.
Where are they found?
This group includes a small range of species, some of which are natives of woodland and roadside, while others are non-natives that may be found in urban or disturbed sites or on waste ground.
Identification
This is an artificial grouping of members of the Labiate family, based purely on flower colour. Plants on this page should be readily identifiable by differences in their leaves and growth style.
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
A very common plant of grassy and disturbed places. Flowers May to December, though often more or less absent for a time in late summer/early autumn. A distinctive and easily-recognised plant with its nettle-like, softly downy leaves, square stems and whorls of white flowers that bear black-tipped stamens.
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Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
An abundant plant of cultivated and disturbed places. Flowers more or less throughout the year, although scarce during late summer. Much smaller than White Dead-nettle with rounder, softly downy leaves. Rather perversely, plants may occasionally be found with white flowers, but can still be told from White Dead-nettle by their rounder leaves and smaller stature.
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White Horehound Marrubium vulgare
A scarce species of chalky grassland, considered to be probably native in NW Norfolk and in the Suffolk Brecks. Elsewhere, occasionally found as a relic of cultivation, especially in grassy places where a cottage once stood. Flowers June to October. A distinctive species with densely-furry, deeply crinkled leaves. The white flowers have a deeply notched upper petal and the calyx has 10, slightly hook-tipped, teeth.
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Cut-leaved Selfheal Prunella laciniata
Introduced from Europe. Occasionally grown as a garden ornamental and rarely found as a garden throw-out. Flowers June to September. A low, creeping plant that forms spreading mats. The flowers open a few at a time from between large, bristly, bracts. Flowers usually white, sometimes with a pink tinge. Very similar to the native Common Selfheal but easily told by its deeply cut leaves.
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Annual Clary Salvia viridis
Introduced from southern Europe as a garden ornamental and occasional recorded where garden waste has been spilt or dumped. May also appear from so-called 'wildfower mixes'. Flowers June to September. A small species with simple leaves, easily recognised by the coloured, leafy bracts at the top of the flowering stem. The bracts may be purple, pink or white and typically match the colour of the flowers.
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