Henbit Dead-Nettle

If you were out pulling or spraying weeds this spring, you may have come across some Lamium amplexicaule, or henbit dead-nettle. Even if you aren’t familiar with the name, this weed is pretty hard to miss because of its unique purplish-pink flowers.

I’m sure I’ve seen some before this year, but this was the first time I’ve looked at it closely.

I think henbit dead-nettle could be the jester of plants – it just looks crazy and wild!

Although henbit is considered a weed, it’s a good-looking one and is also edible. I didn’t try eating it, and you shouldn’t either unless you know what you’re doing, but it’s something to check out if you want to become a weed farmer (as in actual weeds).

The flower is stunningly intricate, but also looks a little bit like a toilet – I wonder if henbit plants are rest areas for insects.

This is one of the flower buds, which is essentially a tiny pom-pom. It is about the size of the tip of a pencil.

Learning about henbit has resulted in some nagging questions for me:
Has a hen bit a henbit before?
Do eight henbits make a henbyte?
Am I the only one who’s reminded of the Yip Yip muppets?

If you have any answers, please let me know!

And now it’s time for the Macro Mystery #6 reveal:

Macro Mystery #6 reveal – an earbud.

The substance in the holes was earwax. I thought my earbuds were pretty clean until I saw that picture – maybe it’s a good thing we don’t see everything with macro vision! But it’s time for at least one more macro item, Macro Mystery #7!

Macro Mystery #7 – cropped clue.

Macro Mystery #7 – full clue.

Don’t overthink this one. The answer will be revealed next week! Until then, don’t let the henbit bite (don’t overthink that either).