It is self-heal, a perennial spreading weed. Hard to shift.

Im not doubting your expertise ojibway but i thought selfheal (prunella vulgaris) was a lot flatter than that.

Million appologies if im wrong and i can't offer an alternative !!!!

I know what you mean, Andy. But it will grow close to the ground were grass is mown short regularly - it sort of flattens itself and just keeps going. The flowers get mown off mine every time and it just sends up new ones.

What put the doubts in my head is that ive seen the common selfheal for sale in a 2 litre pot in a garden centre for nearly £7 and it still remained as flat as i get it in lawns at work.

Im still open to negotiation tho and if it is selfheal, it looks a damn sight better then my lawn weed and i might try to transplant some !!!!

The Collins guide says it grow up to 8" high. I can't find anything else that looks at all like it but I've never seen it this tall myself.

Thank you all. It does grow flatter on the lawn and it seems to compete with the grass for light so maybe thats why it is so tall? I actually quite like it and it adds a nice patch of colour to the lawn!!

The Kew site has an almost identical photo to yours of Prunella vulgaris (selfheal) and says it reaches 30cm -1ft tall.

Thanks for that, I agree it is Prunella vulgaris, it seems to adapt itself to its surroundings.