Lamium galeobdolon

Yellow Archangel ( Lamium galeobdolon )

The Ordinary Yellow Archangel ( Lamium galeobdolon ) ( Syn: Galeobdolon luteum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon L. ), also called gold - nettle, belongs to the genus deadnettles ( Lamium ) in the family Lamiaceae ( Lamiaceae).

Description

The Goldnessel is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the plant height of 15 to 60 cm. The leaves are broadly ovate to lanceolate, notched nettle -like at the edge and arranged decussate at the four-sided stems. On the top there is often a whitish or silver ornament (not with the pure kind, it involves a feral elite form). This spotting occurs when the leaf epidermis lifts from the leaf tissue; The result is a layer of air at which the light is totally reflected.

The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic. They bloom from May to July.

The Goldnessel differs in some characteristics from the other dead-nettle species: The flowers are golden yellow to pale yellow, and usually with an orange drawing on the lower lip and not whitish, reddish or purple as in the other species. While the other dead-nettle species have an undivided lower lip with a maximum of two thread-like denticles on both sides, these teeth are distinctly triangular in yellow archangel, so that the lower lip is three-lobed. Because of these different characteristics, the Goldnessel was also often asked luteum in a monotypic genus Galeobdolon with the only kind Galeobdolon.

Occurrence

It occurs in temperate Eurasia, but has been abducted to North America. The Goldnessel loves nutrient-rich, moist soils and therefore grows like in open forests, forest edges or in perennial bushes. Due to their ability to form streamers, it forms there often extensive stocks.

Small species and varieties

The Goldnessel is very rich in form and is divided into different types (small). May be mentioned as examples:

  • The mountain yellow archangel ( Lamium montanum ), which is characterized by a mostly around tightly and stand- hairy stems, and in the upper part lanceolate leaves. The sterile foothills die off in the winter. Each Blütenquirl consists of 5-8 flowers.
  • The Ordinary Yellow Archangel ( Lamium galeobdolon s.str. ), Whose stem is hairy almost only at the edges and in the upper part usually has wide - heart-shaped stem leaves. Your spurs are enduring.
  • The Silberblättrige dead nettle ( Lamium arge tatum ), in which all leaves are drawn all year round silvery, while the ordinary Goldnessel the leaves are drawn only slightly more than in the winter part. In addition, the Silberblättrige nettle has a slightly longer flowering upper lip.
  • Endtmanns gold nettle ( Lamium endtmannii ) is like the mountain Goldnessel round hairy on the stems, at the edges but stronger. Each Blütenquirl consists of 8-14 flowers. Endtmanns Goldnessel stands in their characteristics between the mountain yellow archangel and the ordinary Goldnessel.
  • The Pale yellow Yellow Archangel ( Lamium flavidum ) has pale yellow flowers and a more highly branched stems, sterile foothills her missing entirely.

Little is known about the general distribution of these species.

The position of this small species is still the subject of investigations. They are considered depending on the author in varying combinations as separate species or subspecies, or not separated ( see, eg, and ).

From the Goldnessel there are some cultivars that are sold as ground cover ornamentals. It is known, for example, the variety ' Florentinum' with distinctive ornaments on the leaves.

Ordinary Yellow Archangel ( Lamium galeobdolon s.str. ) ( Herbarium )

Mountain yellow archangel ( Lamium montanum )

Silberblättrige dead nettle ( Lamium arge tatum )

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