dead-nettle

A bee collects nectar from a purple dead-nettle flower.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plant of the genus Lamium: "dead-nettle" refers to any of various herbaceous plants belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), characterized by leaves that resemble those of stinging nettles but lacking stinging hairs, hence "dead" (harmless). They typically have white, pink, or purple flowers and are often found in waste places or gardens.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The gardener identified the plant as a dead-nettle, noting its square stem and lack of stinging hairs. (A harmless nettle-like plant.)
  • Dead-nettles are often mistaken for true nettles, but they do not cause skin irritation. (A common confusion between the two plants.)

Advanced Usage

• "dead-nettle" in botanical contexts: used to distinguish harmless Lamium species from stinging Urtica species.
  • In field guides, dead-nettle is described as a valuable early-season nectar source for bees. (A botanical description emphasizing its ecological role.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dead-nettle (n): the standard spelling, often hyphenated.
  • She collected a specimen of white dead-nettle for her herbarium. (A specific type of Lamium album.)

Synonyms

• Lamium: the scientific genus name for dead-nettles.
• Archangel: a common name for certain Lamium species (e.g., yellow archangel).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs