Aromatic, clump-forming perennial with an all-over dense glandular indumentum of short and long capitate-glandular hairs. Stems many, 30-80 cm, erect, at base with imbricate brown scales, quadrangular, not or little branched, ± densely leafy. Leaves oblong-elliptic in outline, 12-25 (-35) x 10-15 (-20) mm, erect or erect-spreading, deeply serrate-incised, all sessile and ± amplexicaul, ± sticky. Inflorescence of numerous, ± distant, many-flowered shortly pedunculate verticillasters borne in the axils of the upper leaves and leaf-like bracts. Bracts linear-elliptic ± as long as calyces. Pedicels 1-2 mm. Calyx narrow tubular, 8-11 mm, straight; throat slightly to clearly oblique; teeth unequal, narrow triangular, c. 1/3 length of calyx tube. Corolla c. 20 mm, pink, white, mauve or purple; tube slender, long-exserted, slightly curved, scarcely widened above; lips small, 2-3 mm, lower longer than upper. Nutlets 2.3 x 1 mm, narrow ellipsoid, greenish brown, minutely granular, with faint longitudinal veins, areole small U- or V-shaped.

Fl. Per.: July-September.

Holotype: [W Himalaya] Between Poye and Rici, Jacquemont 1713 (P, K).

Distribution: E.& NE Afghanistan, Pakistan, Soviet C. Asia, Kashmir, Sinkiang (?).

A distinctive oligomorphic species easily recognized by its dense glandular-indumentum, serrate-pectinate leaves and long corollas. Although no specimens have been seen between the E Afghanistan stations and those cited above from Baltistan it would be surprising if the species was absent from Chitral, Gilgit and Hunza. Its closest relative is the following species, q. v., which is in Gilgit. The field note of the Ladak Brown & Rothera specimen observes "all except root used for cuts".