Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)

Especially at home in limestone gravel, Henbit is an early spring weed of ruderal areas. It's a member of the mint family that sometimes produces cleistogamous flowers. These self-pollinating flowers look like little pink buds that never open. The open flowers may be faintly fragrant but the herbage lacks the aromatic oil of so many others in the family. The specific name "amplexicaule" means "embracing the stem," probably in reference to the leaves.

Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule