8/29/08 HOW TO SURVIVE IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD

Friday, 8:15 AM. 55 degrees, wind NW, moderate with gusts. The channel is crawling. The sky is clear and the barometer predicts sunny skies. We got a little over an eighth of an inch of rain last night, bringing our total to a little less than an inch of rain in 24 hours, not enough but we will take it.
The plant pictured is growing in the ditch at Tenth and Mannypenny streets. It is a dead nettle, and as far as I can key it out without spending half the day doing it, it is Lamium purpureum, in the mint family (Labiatae). It is a somewhat common weed of Eurasian origin. I find it interesting because of its similarity in appearance to the stinging nettles, in the nettle family (Urticaceae), which at first I thought it to be. The stinging nettles have barbed, poisonous hairs on the entire plant. The dead nettles have similar appearing hairs but they are not poisonous and do not sting. These plants evolved together, and the dead nettles live on the reputation of the stinging nettles, and like a gang "wannabe" in a bad neighborhood, derive protection from their similarity in appearance (they are called “dead” because their hairs are not “alive” and do not sting). The stinging nettles can be very unpleasant and should be approached with care. When I find one I will bring the subject up again.
Have to get the flag out for the holiday and be sure the yard and gardens look O.K. for the long holiday weekend.