An Introduction to the Morphological Characteristics, Growth Habits and Medicinal Value of Henbit Deadnettle

Henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family, genus Lamium. It is also known as Buddha's seat, bone-setting grass, and lotus-terrace summer-weed, among other names. It is widely distributed in China and is commonly found along field edges, roadsides, forest margins and abandoned garden plots, making it one of the more common wild weeds of early spring.

In appearance, henbit deadnettle is not a tall plant, with stems that are four-angled and often purplish-red at the base. The leaves are round or kidney-shaped with rounded teeth along the edges, and the leaf surface is often wrinkled. The leaves are sessile and clasp the stem directly, which is a distinct feature that sets it apart from many common weeds. The flowers are purplish-red or pink, borne in axillary verticillasters; the flowering period is mostly in spring, and the tiered blooms resemble a precious canopy or a Buddha's seat, which is how the plant got its name.

In terms of growth habits, henbit deadnettle prefers moist environments and is fairly cold-tolerant. It often sprouts in late autumn and early winter, then grows rapidly after overwintering, flowering and setting seed in spring. It tends to grow mixed in with wheat fields, vegetable plots and nurseries. Because it produces large numbers of seeds and has strong reproductive capacity, it is often regarded as a weed in field production, and timely removal is needed in farmland management so as not to affect crop growth.

Although it is often treated as a weed, henbit deadnettle also has certain uses. Its whole plant can be used as medicine, and in folk practice it is mostly used for bruises and injuries, promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis, and in some areas the tender leaves are picked as a wild vegetable. In addition, its habit of flowering in early spring can provide a nectar source for some pollinating insects, so it can also play a certain role in field ecology.