Betonica officinalis

Betonica officinalis, common name betony is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. Other vernacular names include wood betony, common hedgenettle, purple betony, bishopwort, or bishop's wort.

It was until recently usually included in the genus Stachys as its synonym Stachys officinalis, but Betonica was separated at genus rank from Stachys when a detailed examination showed clear consistent differences in both the foliage and flowers, valid at a higher rank than the previous treatment as just a subgenus. This has been confirmed by genetic study, which shows Betonica is separate from Stachys and more closely related to the hemp-nettles Galeopsis.

The Latin specific epithet officinalis refers to plants which had a culinary or medicinal use.