"S. M. Henning" wrote:

(Isatis) wrote:

It was growing wild in the grounds of a ruined Abbey, and there is a
picture of it here.
http://www.ttforumfriends.com/images/forum/f1.jpg

It is probably a Prunella (called self-heal), probably Prunella vulgaris:

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/B8C.HTM#SELF-HEAL

This description of Prunella vulgaris makes it even more certain:

SELF-HEAL

Family LABIATAE Prunella vulgaris

Commonest by the wayside and in damp pastures, and abundant throughout
Britain.

It is a perennial with a creeping rootstock, with ascending flowering
branches, three to twelve inches high. The stem is square and the
stalked leaves are long, oval in shape, with either toothed or entire
margins. Both stem and leaves are more or less HAIRY.

The bracts of the flowerspike have PURPLE EDGES. The lipped flowers are
mostly purple, sometimes white or crimson. There are four stamens. There
is a peculiarity in the form of the stamens worth noting. The filament
branches at the tip, and one branch bears the anthers whilst the other
is pressed against the upper lip. The flowers are dimorphic, large and
small-the large perfect, the small having no anthers.

The plant is also known as Carpenter's Herb, Hook-heal, Sickle-wort and
Prunella. In olden days it was considered one of the most useful
medicines for inward and outward wounds.

Flowering from July to September.

[from The Observer's Book of WILD FLOWERS Compiled by W. J. STOKOE, 1973]

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