Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Stachys arvensis (L.) L.

Synonyms

Glechoma arvensis L.

Family

Labiatae (South Australia)
Lamiaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)

Common Names

annual hedgenettle, field woundwort, fieldnettle betony, hedge-nettle, stagger weed, staggerweed

Origin

Native to northern Africa, the Azores, the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands, western and southern Europe, the middle-east and western Asia.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in southern and eastern Australia. It is widespread in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and is most common in the wetter parts of these states. In addition, it is naturalised in many parts of South Australia and in south-western Western Australia. Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Widely naturalised elsewhere in the world, including in some parts of North America, in New Zealand, and on some Pacific islands (e.g. the Galápagos Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga and Hawaii).

Notes

While stagger weed (Stachys arvensis) is primarily a weed of cultivation and disturbed sites, it is sometimes also regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.