Short to medium plant stem with conspicuous dense spreading hairs and swollen at the leaf-junctions. Flower 12 to 15 mm long the lowest lobe of the flower is clearly notched, somewhat convex. Usually white with extensive purplish markings on lower lip. Hybridises with G. tetrahit, making definite identification of this species difficult.

Galeopsis tetrahit, the common hemp-nettle

The lower lip very definitely notched and with extensive darker markings close to margin of lip; lower lip convex with turned down (revolute) sides

Photographs of flower showing details of lower lip

Cultivated or recently disturbed ground.

July to October.

Annual.

Found throughout Britain but less common than Galeopsis tetrahit.

Scarce, but probably overlooked, in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 26 of the 617 tetrads.