A perennial plant up to 80 cm tall, a member of the labiate family, with an unpleasant odor, a branched, square, hairy stem and short, also hairy, unpleasant-smelling leaves. The flowers are pink to purple, flowering time is June to October. Distribution: Mediterranean region, Near East, Central Europe to Ireland, Scotland and southern Scandinavia, also North America.
The dried flowering stem tips are used phytotherapeutically (black nettle herb - Ballotae nigrae herba).