Stachys palustris

Species category

Weed

Common name

marsh hedgenettle

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

NutletNutlet:
A small, dry, indehiscent carpel of a fruit, usually composed of one quarter of the fruit with each enclosing a single seed (e.g. mints).

Shape

Irregularly obovateObovate:
Inverted egg shaped with apical end the broadest.

Size

  • Length 2–2.5 mm
  • Width 1.1–1.7 mm
  • Thickness 1.1–1.7 mm

Color

Dark brown

Texture

Very rough with occasional longitudinal ridges

Other structures

Scar is at basalBasal:
The base of the fruit or seed opposite the apical end.
end. Flat surfaces are irregular.

Identification notes

This is a highly irregular nutletNutlet:
A small, dry, indehiscent carpel of a fruit, usually composed of one quarter of the fruit with each enclosing a single seed (e.g. mints).
in both size and shape. The scar is almost obscure at the base.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Maine

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Lamiaceae

Valid name

Stachys palustris L.

Synonyms

Stachys palustris L. var. elliptica Clos
Stachys palustris L. var. petiolata Clos
Stachys palustris L. var. segetum (Mutel) Grogn.

 Stachys palustris.  Nutlets with a scar at the basal end.
Stachys palustris. Nutlets with a scar at the basal end.
 Stachys palustris.  Nutlets with a scar at the base that is almost obscure.
Stachys palustris. Nutlets with a scar at the base that is almost obscure.