Lamium maculatum
Encyclopedia
Lamium maculatum is a flowering plant
in the family Lamiaceae
.
, about 2–4 cm (0.78740157480315–1.6 ) long. Their shape varies from ovate-triangular to heart-shaped. The inflorescence]] bears about two to eight hermaphrodite
flowers about {convert|20|-|30|mm}} long. The flowers of the plant are formed in the leaf axils of the upper leaf pairs. The upper lip of the flowers are helmet-shaped, usually pink or purplish, while the bilobate lower one is whitish with purple dots. The stamens are located in the upper lip and have orange pollen. The flowering period extends from April through November.
Lamium maculatum was depicted in a painting by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century http://www.linnean-online.org/7022/.
Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon' has unusually purple snapdragon-type flowers several times a year, over bright silver foliage with a green edge. Grows 4-8" tall in shaded or partially shaded areas in Australia. It tends to grow higher in spring while during the colder weather it is much flatter to the ground. If subjected to light frost, lamium maculatum will recover in spring as it enters its growth cycle.
and temperate Asia (Lebanon
, Syria
, Turkey
).
s at an altitude of 0–1200 m (0–3,937 ) above sea level.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the family Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
.
Description
This species is very variable, in term of leaf size and shape, hairiness and flower colours. Lamium maculatum reaches on average 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 ) of height. It is a plant with erect, hollow and pubescent stems, branched at the base only. The soft hairy leaf blade is about 8 inches long. They are spotted (hence the Latin name “maculatum” of this species), toothed and have long petiolesPetiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
, about 2–4 cm (0.78740157480315–1.6 ) long. Their shape varies from ovate-triangular to heart-shaped. The inflorescence]] bears about two to eight hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
flowers about {convert|20|-|30|mm}} long. The flowers of the plant are formed in the leaf axils of the upper leaf pairs. The upper lip of the flowers are helmet-shaped, usually pink or purplish, while the bilobate lower one is whitish with purple dots. The stamens are located in the upper lip and have orange pollen. The flowering period extends from April through November.
Gallery
Origin
Once known as the "Convicts flower" for its appearance upon the marsh graves of inmates along the Thames at Woolwich and Deptford.Lamium maculatum was depicted in a painting by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century http://www.linnean-online.org/7022/.
Lamium maculatum 'Purple Dragon' has unusually purple snapdragon-type flowers several times a year, over bright silver foliage with a green edge. Grows 4-8" tall in shaded or partially shaded areas in Australia. It tends to grow higher in spring while during the colder weather it is much flatter to the ground. If subjected to light frost, lamium maculatum will recover in spring as it enters its growth cycle.
Distribution
This plant is native throughout EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and temperate Asia (Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
).
Habitat
It grows in a variety of habitats from open grassland to woodland, generally on moist, fertile soilSoil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s at an altitude of 0–1200 m (0–3,937 ) above sea level.
Cultivation
A wide variety of cultivars have been developed, mainly for their coloured and varigated leaves:- 'Anne Greenaway'
- 'Purple Dragon'
Synonyms
- Lamium album var. maculatum L.
- Lamium foliosum CrantzCrantzCrantz is surname of:* Albert Krantz , German historian* Christl Cranz * Edvard Sylou-Creutz , a Norwegian classical pianist, composer and radio personality...
- Lamium laevigatum L.
- Lamium melissifolium Mill.
- Lamium rubrum Jenk.
- Lamium rugosum Sol. in W.Aiton
- Lamium hirsutum Lam.
- Lamium stoloniferum Lapeyr.
- Lamium affine Guss. & Ten.Ten.Ten. may refer to:* a common abbreviation in musical notation for tenuto* the standard botanical author abbreviation of Michele Tenore...
in M.Tenore - Lamium columnae Ten.
- Lamium mutabile Dumort.
- Lamium vulgatum var. rubrum Benth.
- Lamium tillii Ten.
- Lamium grenieri Mutel
- Lamium grandiflorum Willd. ex Benth.
- Lamium niveum Schrad.
- Lamium gundelsheimeri K.Koch
- Lamium truncatum Boiss.
- Lamium cupreum SchottHeinrich Wilhelm SchottHeinrich Wilhelm Schott was an Austrian botanist well known for his extensive work on the aroids ....
- Lamium dilatatum SchurSchurSchur is a German or Jewish surname and may refer to:* Alexander Schur , German footballer* Dina Feitelson-Schur , Israeli educator* Fritz Schur , Danish businessman* Gustav-Adolf Schur , German cyclist...
- Lamium elegantissimum Schur
- Lamium cardiaca Cogn.
- Lamium cupreum subsp. dilatatum (Schur) NymanNymanNyman is an English and Swedish surname. The name originates from Anglo-Saxon culture. The name is derived from the words neowe, niwe, and nige which all mean new, and the word mann, meaning man. The name was traditionally given to newcomers. Other variations of the surname include: Newman, Newmen,...
- Lamium pallidiflorum BeckGünther von Mannagetta und Lërchenau BeckGünther Ritter Beck von Mannagetta und Lerchenau was a prominent Austrian botanist.- Life :...
- Lamium villosifolium (R.R.Mill) A.P.Khokhr.