Common Australian Garden Weeds

Stachys arvensis

Scientific name: Stachys arvensis (L.) L.


Stagger weed (Stachys arvensis) showing the opposite arrangement of the leaves.


Close-up of the flowers of stagger weed.


A photo showing the black seeds of this species within the green floral tube (calyx).


A stagger weed seedling showing the stalked leaves.

Synonym: Glechoma arvensis L.

Common name: Stagger weed.

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin:

Native of Europe and Asia.

Habit:

Annual herb with erect stems growing 30-80 cm tall.

Habitat:

Widespread weed of gardens, pastures, cultivation and disturbed sites.

General description:

Stems and leaves
The erect stems are thin four-sided (quadrangular) and hairy. The leaves have stalks (petioles) 0.1-1.5 cm long. Leaf blades are oval to round, 0.8-4 cm in size, with scalloped margins and sparse hairs on both surfaces.
Flowers and fruit
Flowers are 5-8 mm long with pale purple petals enclosed within a green tube (its calyx). Flowers are grouped in clusters of 2-6 in the axils of the upper leaves, forming erect leafy spikes. Flowering occurs from late winter to spring.

Distinguishing features:

Annual herb with weak, 4-angled, erect stems with paired, stalked, oval leaves with scalloped margins and purplish flowers. There is a minty odour when the plant is damaged. Stachys arvensis (stagger weed) is very similar to Lamium amplexicaule (dead nettle). The two species can be distinguished by the leaves on the flowering stems, which are stalked in stagger weed and sessile (attached without a stalk) and kidney-shaped in dead nettle.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Guide to the Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.