Genus Stachys Rank Species | ||
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Similar Betonica annua, Downy Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica, Stachys alpina, Stachys palustris | ||
Stachys arvensis is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common names field woundwort and staggerweed. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. It is known on other continents as an introduced species and widespread weed.
It grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas, and often in moist spots. It is an annual herb producing a branching stem up to about 60 centimeters in maximum height. The stem is squared in cross-section and it is covered in rough hairs. The oppositely arranged leaves have hairy, serrated or toothed blades up to 2 or 3 centimeters long which are borne on short petioles.
The inflorescence is made up of interrupted clusters of flowers borne in the axils of the leaf pairs. Each cluster has up to 6 flowers with pinkish corollas in hairy purple-tinged calyces of sepals.
