Lamiaceae

Mesosphaerum suaveolens

Common Names: Hyptis

Plant Form: Upright annual or perennial herb. Size: 1-3 m tall. Stem: Green or reddish green, very hairy, square. Leaves: Opposite arranged, hairy, blade is egg shaped or oval shaped, possibly heart shaped. Flowers: Pinkish or lavender blue tubular flowers, singular or in clusters of up to 5. Fruit and Seeds: Lobed capsule that divides into 2 nutlets with a single seed each. Brown to black with whitish markings. Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, stockyards, waterholes. Distinguishing Features: Can look somewhat like Knob weed (Hyptis capitata) but does not have ball-shaped flowerheads. Impacts: Unpalatable, forms dense thickets, competes with commercial crops and native vegetation.