Perennial, aromatic, with a slender woody rhizome. Stems ascending or decumbent, short, to 15 cm, with a short eglandular indumentum, green or suffused purple, leafy. Leaves oblong or ovate-oblong, lamina to 25 x 15 mm, often less, ± regularly crenate, cordate, with a sparse short eglandular indumentum and sessile oil globules below; petiole to c. 15 mm on lower leaves less above. Inflorescence a dense compact 4-6 cm, ± oblong head, showy; bracts c. 1/2 length of calyces, oblong-ovate, at least in lower part with prominent awned teeth; pedicels c. 1 mm. Calyx 15-18 mm long, bilabiate, pale-coloured, ± broadly tubular, with a short eglandular indumentum and scattered sessile oil globules; upper lip of 3 subequal triangular shortly acuminate teeth; lower lip of 2 narrow lanceolate acuminate teeth, thickened at base of sinus. Corolla white tinged pink to lavender, c. 25 mm externally pilose; upper lip longer than lower, slightly curved. Nutlets narrow obovoid, c. 3.5 x 1.5 mm black, attachment scar prominent, V-shaped.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

Type: [W. Tibet] In schistosis mobilibus Koo-Khio-ghang, Jacquemont (K - photo!, P).

Distribution: NE Afghanistan, Pakistan, NW. Himalayas, Sikkim, Nepal, Soviet C. Asia, Sinkiang, Tibet.

A low-growing high alpine species growing up to the limits of vegetation, often on barren slopes or screen. The specific epithet is rather misleading in that the leaves are scarcely heterophyllous. It is surprising that the species is common in Baltistan, known from a few gatherings in Wakhan (Afghanistan), and yet is not recorded in the intervening areas of Hunza, Gilgit or Chitral.