Lamium maculatum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 148

6. L. maculatum L. , Sp. PI. ed. 2, 809 (1763).

Sparsely to densely hairy perennial 15-80 cm. Leaves 10-80 x 10-70 mm, triangular-ovate, coarsely and irregularly crenate-serrate. Calyx 8-15 mm, the teeth shorter to longer than tube. Corolla 20- 35 mm, pinkish-purple, rarely white or brownish-purple; tube 10-18 mm, curved, equalling or longer than calyx; upper lip 7-14 mm, entire; lateral lobes subulate; lower lip 4-6 mm, obcordate. Anthers hairy. 2az=18. Europe northwards to c. 54° TV. in Germany and c. 59° N. in N.C. Russia, but absent from most o f the islands. Al Au Be Bu Cz Ga Ge G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, K, E) Sa Tu [Br Su].

A very variable species, especially in the shape and toothing of the leaves, length of the calyx-teeth and corolla-colour. It does not at the moment seem possible to recognize subspecies, as although there seems to be a good correlation of characters in some areas this is not maintained elsewhere.