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- All other flowering non-woody plants
- All other herbaceous, flowering dicots
- Galeopsis bifida
Galeopsis bifida — split-lipped hemp-nettle
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Facts
Split-lipped hemp-nettle is an exotic plant from Europe that has colonized northern North America, as well as Asia. It differs from brittle-stemmed hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit) in having a notched lower flower petal, and also in usually having pink flowers, whereas the flowers of brittle-stemmed hemp-nettle are usually white.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (human-disturbed or -maintained habitats), meadows and fields
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
- 
                                
                                    - Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
 
- Flower petal color
- 
                                
                                    - blue to purple
- pink to red
- white
 
- Leaf type
- the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
- Leaf arrangement
- opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
- Leaf blade edges
- the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
- Flower symmetry
- there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
- Number of sepals, petals or tepals
- 
                                
                                    - there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
- there are four petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
 
- Fusion of sepals and petals
- the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
- Stamen number
- 4
- Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
- Fruit length
- 3 mm
- 
                        Clonal plantlets- Bulbils
- the plant does not appear to have bulbils
 - Bulblets replace flowers
- there are no bulblets where the flowers are located
 
- 
                        Flowers- Anther attachment
- the anther is attached near its midpoint to the filament
 - Anther color
- the anthers show no hint of a pink, reddish or purplish tint
 - Anther opening
- the anthers have narrow slits or furrows that run cross-wise across the anthers
 - Anther spurs
- the anthers do not have spurs on them
 - Anther tube length
- 0 mm
 - Calyx growth after flowering
- the calyx grows to cover or partially cover the fruit
 - Calyx symmetry
- there are two or more ways to evenly divide the calyx (the calyx is radially symmetrical)
 - Carpel hairs
- the carpels have no hairs
 - Carpels fused
- the carpels are fused to one another
 - Cilia on petals
- the petal margins have cilia
 - Cleistogamous flowers
- there are no cleistogamous flowers on the plan
 - Corolla morphology
- the flower has two prominent lips
 - Corolla palate
- 
                                
                                    - no
- yes
 
 - Corona lobe length
- 0 mm
 - Epicalyx
- the flower does not have an epicalyx
 - Epicalyx number of parts
- 0
 - Filament surface
- 
                                
                                    - the filament has rough hairs or scales on it
- the filament is smooth, with no hairs or scales
 
 - Flower appearance
- the flowers appear after the leaves have appeared
 - Flower description
- the flower has a superior ovary, and lacks a hypanthium
 - Flower diameter
- 6.4 mm
 - Flower orientation
- the flower points upwards or is angled outwards
 - Flower petal color
- 
                                
                                    - blue to purple
- pink to red
- white
 
 - Flower reproductive parts
- the flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
 - Flower symmetry
- there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
 - Flowers sunken into stem
- no
 - Form of style
- the style is lobed at the tip, and unbranched
 - Fringed petal edges
- the petals are not fringed
 - Fused stamen clusters
- NA
 - Fusion of sepals and petals
- the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
 - Hairs on flower stalk
- NA
 - Hairs on inflorescence
- 
                                
                                    - at least some of the hairs on the axis of the inflorescence have glands
- the axis of the inflorescence has hairs entirely without glands
 
 - Horns in hoods (Asclepias)
- NA
 - Hypanthium
- the flower does not have a hypanthium
 - Hypanthium length
- 0 mm
 - Inflorescence one-sided
- the flowers are arrayed in a spiral around the inflorescence axis or branches, or occur singly, or in several ranks
 - Inner tepals (Rumex)
- NA
 - Interior flower disk
- the flower has an interior disc
 - Length of flower stalk
- 0 mm
 - Marks on petals
- 
                                
                                    - the petals have spots or streaks on them
- there are no noticeable marks on the petals
 
 - Nectar spur
- the flower has no nectar spurs
 - Number of branches in umbel
- 0
 - Number of carpels
- 2
 - Number of pistils
- 1
 - Number of sepals, petals or tepals
- 
                                
                                    - there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
- there are four petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
 
 - Number of styles
- 1
 - Ovary position
- the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
 - Perianth shape
- NA
 - Petal and sepal arrangement
- the flower includes two cycles of petal- or sepal-like structures
 - Petal and sepal colors
- 
                                
                                    - blue to purple
- pink to red
- white
 
 - Petal appearance
- the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)
 - Petal base
- the petal narrows gradually or does not narrow at the base
 - Petal folding in bud
- the petals in bud are arranged in a cycle with edges overlapping like roof shingles (imbricate)
 - Petal folds or pleats
- the petals of the flower do not have folds or plaits
 - Petal glandular dots or scales
- no
 - Petal hairs (Viola)
- NA
 - Petal hairs on inner/upper surface
- there are hairs on the inner/upper petal surface
 - Petal length
- 13–16 mm
 - Petal length relative to sepals
- the petals are longer than the sepals
 - Petal nectaries
- the petals do not have nectaries
 - Petal number
- 2–5
 - Petal shape
- 
                                
                                    - the petal outline is another shape
- the petal outline is oblong (rectangular, but with rounded ends)
- the petal outline is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
 
 - Petal tip shape
- 
                                
                                    - the petal tip is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
- the petal tip is retuse (with a blunt or rounded apex and a notch at the center)
 
 - Petal tips (Cuscuta)
- NA
 - Raceme attachment (Veronica)
- NA
 - Reproductive system
- all the flowers have both carpels and stamens (synoecious)
 - Scales inside corolla
- no
 - Sepal and petal color
- the sepals are different from the petals
 - Sepal appearance
- the sepals are green or brown, and leaf-like in texture
 - Sepal appendages
- the sepals do not have appendages on them
 - Sepal appendages (Oenothera)
- NA
 - Sepal auricles
- the sepals have no auricles
 - Sepal cilia
- the sepals have cilia on their edges
 - Sepal color
- green to brown
 - Sepal features
- 
                                
                                    - one or more sepals have a spine at the tip
- one or more sepals have glands that are raised from the surface by a stalk
 
 - Sepal length
- 5–8 mm
 - Sepal number
- 5
 - Sepal orientation
- the sepals are pressed against the corolla, or jutting stiffly upward
 - Sepal relative length
- the sepal lobes are approximately the same length as the fused portion
 - Sepal shape
- 
                                
                                    - the sepal outline is roughly triangular
- the sepal outline is subulate (narrowly tapering from the base to the apex; awl-shaped)
 
 - Sepal texture
- the sepals are firm or rigid
 - Sepal tip shape
- the sepal tip is acuminate (tapers to a very narrow point)
 - Sepal uniformity
- all the sepals are about the same size
 - Sepals fused only to sepals
- the sepals are fused to each other (not other flower parts), at least near their bases
 - Spur length
- 0 mm
 - Spur number
- NA
 - Stamen appendages
- stamen appendages are absent
 - Stamen attachment
- the stamens are attached at or near the bases of the petals or tepals
 - Stamen lengths differ
- the stamens are didynamous (two long stamens and two short ones)
 - Stamen morphology
- the stamens within a cycle differ in length or width
 - Stamen number
- 4
 - Stamen position relative to petals
- NA
 - Stamen relative length
- anything
 - Stamens fused
- the stamens are not attached to one another
 - Staminodes
- there are no staminodes on the flower
 - Stigma position
- the stigmas are positioned at the tip of the style
 - Style petal-like
- the styles are not petal-like
 - Style relative length
- the stigma protrudes beyond the mouth of the corolla
 - Surface of ovary
- the ovary surface has no points, bumps or wrinkles
 - Umbel flower reproductive parts
- NA
 - Upper lip of bilabiate corolla
- the upper lip of the bilabiate corolla has one lobe
 
- 
                        Fruits or seeds- Achene relative orientation
- NA
 - Achene shape
- NA
 - Achene surface (Polygonum)
- NA
 - Achene type
- NA
 - Berry color
- NA
 - Capsule color (Viola)
- NA
 - Capsule ribs
- NA
 - Capsule splitting
- NA
 - Carpel beak length
- 0 mm
 - Fruit (pyxis) dehiscence
- NA
 - Fruit beak length
- 0 mm
 - Fruit cross-section
- the fruit is round in cross-section
 - Fruit features (Brassicaceae)
- NA
 - Fruit length
- 3 mm
 - Fruit length relative to sepals
- the fruit is shorter than its associated sepals
 - Fruit locules
- four
 - Fruit stalk orientation
- NA
 - Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
 - Fruit type (specific)
- the fruit is a schizocarp (when dry it splits into sections, each holding one or more seeds)
 - Hair type on fruit
- NA
 - Hairs on fruit
- the fruits are not hairy
 - Legumes (Fabaceae)
- NA
 - Mericarp length
- 3 mm
 - Mericarp segment shape (Desmodium)
- NA
 - Other markings on berry
- NA
 - Ovary stipe
- the ovary or fruit does not have a stipe
 - Ovary stipe length
- 0 mm
 - Placenta arrangement
- the plant has axile placentation, in which the ovules are attached where the septa of a compound ovary are united, usually on the central axis, or to the septa themselves
 - Rows of seeds in fruit (Brassicaceae)
- NA
 - Schizocarpic fruit compression
- the fruit is not flattened
 - Schizocarpic fruit segments
- 4
 - Seed length
- 3 mm
 - Seed number
- 1–4
 - Seed relative length
- the seed is longer than it is wide
 - Seed surface
- 
                                
                                    - the seed has a surface characteristic other than those listed
- the seed is hairless
- the seed is smooth or without clear markings
 
 - Seeds comose
- no hairs
 - Septum in fruit (Brassicaceae)
- NA
 - Wings on fruit
- the fruit does not have wings on it
 - prickles on fruits
- the fruits do not have thorn-like defensive structures
 
- 
                        Glands or sap- Glands on leaf blade
- 
                                
                                    - the leaf blades do not have glandular dots or scales
- the leaf blades have glandular dots or scales
 
 - Sap
- the sap is clear and watery
 - Sap color
- the sap is clear
 
- 
                        Growth form- Growth form
- the plant is an herb (it has self-supporting stems)
 - Horizontal rooting stem
- the plant does not have stolons
 - Lifespan
- the plant lives only a single year or less
 - Parasitism
- the plant is not parasitic
 - Plant color
- the leaves or young stems of the plant are green
 - Plants darken when dry
- no
 - Spines on plant
- the plant has no spines
 - Underground organs
- there is a thickened taproot on the plant
 
- 
                        Leaves- Bracteole edges
- NA
 - Bracteole length
- 0 mm
 - Bracteole number (Apiaceae)
- 0
 - Bracteole shape
- NA
 - Bracteoles
- there are no bracteoles on the plant
 - Bracts in plantain (Plantago)
- NA
 - Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
- 0 mm
 - Final leaf segment length to width ratio (compound lvs only)
- 0
 - Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
- 0 mm
 - Floral bract texture
- the floral bracts are green, with a leaf-like texture
 - Floral bracts
- the flower has one or more bracts associated with it
 - Flower bract length
- 3–6 mm
 - Hairs on leaf stalk
- the petiole has hairs on it
 - Hairs on underside of leaf
- the underside of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
 - Hairs on upper side of leaf
- the upper side of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
 - Hooked hairs on underside of leaf
- no
 - Inflated hairs on leaf
- the leaf blade does not have inflated hairs on it
 - Leaf arrangement
- opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
 - Leaf blade base
- the leaf has a distinct leaf stalk (petiole)
 - Leaf blade base shape
- the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
 - Leaf blade base symmetry
- the leaf blade base is symmetrical
 - Leaf blade bloom
- the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom
 - Leaf blade edges
- the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
 - Leaf blade flatness
- the leaf is flat (planar) at the edges
 - Leaf blade hairs
- the leaf blade has simple hairs with no glands, and not tangled or wooly
 - Leaf blade length
- 30–85 mm
 - Leaf blade primary vein pattern
- the secondary veins branch off at intervals from the primary vein
 - Leaf blade shape
- 
                                
                                    - the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
- the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
 
 - Leaf blade surface colors
- the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color
 - Leaf blade texture
- the leaf blade is herbaceous (has a leafy texture)
 - Leaf blade vein pattern
- the major veins of the leaf blade branch, but do not rejoin
 - Leaf blade veins
- the leaf blade has one main vein running from the base towards the tip (it may or may not have secondary veins)
 - Leaf blade width
- 15–40 mm
 - Leaf duration
- the leaves drop off in winter (or they whither but persist on the plant)
 - Leaf form
- the leaves are green, with an expanded blade and a leaf-like texture
 - Leaf hair orientation
- 
                                
                                    - the hairs are flat against the leaf surface, mostly pointing towards the leaf tip
- the hairs are standing up straight or curved in different directions
 
 - Leaf sheath length
- 0 mm
 - Leaf shiny
- the upper side of the leaf is dull or slightly shiny
 - Leaf spines
- there are no spines on the leaf edges
 - Leaf stalk
- the leaves have leaf stalks
 - Leaf stalk attachment to leaf
- the petiole attaches at the basal margin of the leaf blade
 - Leaf stalk base
- the petiole base is narrow where it attaches to the stem
 - Leaf stalk length
- 10–25 mm
 - Leaf teeth and lobes
- the leaf blade margin has outward-pointing teeth
 - Leaf tip
- 
                                
                                    - the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate (tapers to a long, thin point)
- the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
 
 - Leaf tufts in axils
- 
                                
                                    - there are clusters of smaller leaves growing out of axils
- there are no clusters of smaller leaves growing out of axils
 
 - Leaf type
- the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
 - Leaf types
- NA
 - Leaf variation
- the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem
 - Leaflet number
- 0
 - Leaflet petiolules
- NA
 - Leaves per node
- there are two leaves per node along the stem
 - Pinnately compound leaf type
- NA
 - Specific leaf type
- the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
 - Stipels
- NA
 - Stipule edges
- NA
 - Stipule features
- NA
 - Stipule fused to leaf stalk
- NA
 - Stipule length
- 0 mm
 - Stipule shape
- NA
 - Stipules
- there are no stipules on the plant
 
- 
                        Place- Habitat
- terrestrial
 - New England state
- 
                                
                                    - Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
 
 - Specific habitat
- 
                                
                                    - human-disturbed or -maintained habitats
- meadows or fields
 
 
- 
                        Scent- Plant odor
- the plant has a pleasant smell, for example anise, fruit, mint or resin
 
- 
                        Stem, shoot, branch- Branched tendrils
- NA
 - Direction of stem hairs
- 
                                
                                    - the hairs are pressed flat against the plant, pointing towards the plant's tip
- the hairs point mostly upwards to outwards
 
 - Flowering stem cross-section
- the flowering stem is roughly square
 - Hair between stem nodes
- the stem has hairs between the nodes
 - Hairs between stem nodes
- 
                                
                                    - at least some of the hairs on the stem have glands
- the hairs on the stem are plain, without glands or branches, and not tangled
 
 - Hooked hairs on stem between nodes
- no
 - Leaves on stem
- there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
 - Plant height
- 20–100 cm
 - Stem bloom
- there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem
 - Stem hair distribution
- the hairs on the stem are distributed more of less uniformly
 - Stem nodes swollen
- the stem is swollen at the nodes
 - Stem orientation
- the stems are upright or angled outwards
 - Stem roughness between nodes
- the stem does not feel rough
 - Stem spacing
- the plant is solitary, or a few plants are growing together
 - Stem succulence
- the stems are not succulent
 - Tendril origin
- NA
 - Tendrils
- the plant does not have tendrils
 - Wings on stem
- the stem does not have wings on it
 
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- not applicable (S-rank: SNA)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Galeopsis bifida Boenn. E
split-lipped hemp-nettle. Galeopsis tetrahit L. var. bifida (Boenn.) Lej. & Court. • CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. Fields, roadsides, waste areas, gardens, disturbed soil.
Native to North America?
No
Sometimes confused with
- Galeopsis ladanum:
- eglandular hairs of stem minute and recurved and corolla 15-28 mm long (vs. G. bifida, with eglandular hairs of stem long, rigid, spreading to slightly recurved, and corolla mostly 13-15 mm long).
- Galeopsis tetrahit:
- petals mostly 15-23 mm long, usually white, the central lower lobe without an obvious notch (vs. G. bifida, with petals mostly 13-15 mm long, usually pink, the central lower lobe with a small notch).
Synonyms
- Galeopsis tetrahit var. bifida (Boenn.) Lej. & Court.
 
                         
                         
                        ![Flowers: Galeopsis bifida. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-239x239/Lamiaceae/galeopsis-bifida-fl-ahaines.jpg) 
                         
                         
                        ![Flowers: Galeopsis bifida. ~ By Elizabeth Farnsworth. ~ Copyright © 2025 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-239x239/Lamiaceae/galeopsis-bifida-fl-efarnsworth.jpg) 
                         
                         
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