Galeopsis tetrahit - Common Hemp Nettle

Family:	Labiatae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Iceland and Russia to Spain and Macedonia.

Galeopsis tetrahit (Common Hemp Nettle) is a Annual which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
Common Hemp Nettle will flower in January to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Self

Soil Information

Common Hemp Nettle will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Common Hemp Nettle prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Common Hemp Nettle can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Arable land, sometimes in woods, fens and wet heaths[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

Cultivation Details

Grows in most soils, disliking heavy shade. This plant is sometimes grown in the wild garden[200]. An aggregate species[17]. It is a natural hybrid, G. speciosa x G. pubescens[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The plant is antispasmodic, detergent, expectorant and resolvent[240]. It is used in the treatment of tissue-wasting complaints[240]. An infusion of the plant is used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints[240].

• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Detergent - A cleansing agent, used on wounds etc. It removes dead and diseased matter.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Resolvent - Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ[200]. Germination usually takes place within a month.

Known Hazards

The plant is poisonous, causing paralysis[74].

Other Uses

A drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is used as a polish for leather[74, 100]. A fibre is obtained from the stems, it is used for making cord[100].

• Fibre - Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
• Oil - Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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