Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Other common names
Texas betony
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Stachys coccinea Ortega
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
Yes
A stout, erect, leafy plant covered with soft hairs and bearing scarlet, bilaterally symmetrical flowers in whorls at intervals in a spike atop 4-sided stems. Does not have stinging hairs as do true nettles.
Erect rhizomatous green perennial with square stout stems; spikes of bright red tubular flowers; leaves elliptic to ovate, stemmed, hairy on both sides, margin coarsely serrate.
Habitat
Moist areas from desert scrub to ponderosa pine.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
The flower cluster is an interrupted spike of two-lipped, bright red, tubular flowers. The flowers are to 1-1/4 inches long. The upper lip is erect and the lower lip is 3-lobed and spreading.
Flower color
Bright red
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Square stems are lined with pairs of green triangular leaves to 3 inches long, becoming smaller up the stem. Leaves are wrinkled and heavily veined. Both leaves and stems are covered with soft hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Nutlets are 1/16 inch long and wide, bumpy.
Fruit type
Nutlet