northeast-flora-and-fauna

Continuing my encounters last April at the Raritan River Greenway [1], here's an abundant, early-flowering plant I saw. It's almost certainly a Red Deadnettle (aka Purple Deadnettle aka Purple Arcangel aka Red Henbit aka Deadnettle), but the plant is similar to  and related to the Common Henbit (aka Greater Henbit aka Henbit Deadnettle aka Henbit). Much of what is true about Red Deadnettle is also true about Common Henbit. Unlike Stinging Nettle but similar to Carolina Horsenettle , Red Deadnettle and Common Henbit are not nettles . Red Deadnettle and Common Henbit are instead mints . (Carolina Horsenettle is a nightshade .) They also don't sting the way nettles do; the name "deadnettle" came about because they look a bit like a nettle but with "dead stingers". The name "henbit" comes from its tendency to be eaten by chickens . Both Red Deadnettle and Common Henbit are native to Eurasia and North Africa but can now be found across much of N...