Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Stachys arvensis (L.) L.

*S. arvensis (L.) L., Sp. Pl.  ed. 2, 814  (1763)

staggerweed

Hairy, non-aromatic annual with stem to c. 50 cm tall, often much less. Petioles often > lamina in basal lvs, very short in upper lvs. Lamina of basal and upper lvs 1-4 × 0.7-2.5 cm, oblong, ovate or suborbicular, evenly crenate; base truncate to cordate; apex rounded. Bracts sessile, otherwise similar to uppermost foliage lvs. Calyx c. 5 mm long, hairy; teeth ± = tube, linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla 6-7 mm long, pink, somewhat hairy outside; tube = or slightly < calyx; upper lip small, not hooded, < lower lip. Nutlets 1.5-2 mm long, broad-obovoid, bluntly angled, often with blackish, irregular tubercles.

N.; S.: common to abundant throughout, including offshore islands; K.: Raoul.

Europe 1867

A weed of gardens, fields, waste places, roadsides, and river beds.

FL Jan-Dec.

Poisonous (Connor 1977).

In very dry stony places such as river beds plants often do not exceed a few cms in height.

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