The Genus Stachys

1. Cooley's Hedge Nettle, Great Betony: Stachys chamissonis var. cooleyae (formerly Stachys cooleyae) - Flowers bright reddish-purple, the tube 15-25 mm long and the lower lip 8-14 mm long. Leaves all petiolate, the petioles from 1.5-4.5 cm long. Plants range from 70-150 cm high.

2. Swamp Hedge Nettle, Marsh Betony: Stachys palustris ssp. pilosa - Flowers purplish with many white spots, the corolla measuring 11-16 mm long with the tube about equal to or slightly longer than the calyx. The leaves are mostly sessile. Any petioles that are present are less than 1 cm long.

3. Rigid Hedge Nettle, Rough Hedge-nettle: Stachys rigida var. rigida - Flowers purplish with many white spots, the corolla measuring 9-14 mm long with the tube greater than the calyx. The upper leaves are sessile but the lower leaves have distinct petioles at least 1 cm long.