I.C. Hedge

Perennial with a thick woody rootstock. Stems many usually not or little branched, 10-25 cm, slender, erect-ascending, leafy, with a pilose or vinous eglandular indumentum. Leaves greyish, small, c. 7-10 x 7-10 mm, ovate-triangular, serrulate, truncate to subcordate, nervation prominent, ± densely lanate-floccose below with numerous sessile oil globules; petiole 2-12 mm. Inflorescence of many ± loose 3-5-flowered long-pedunculate cymes arising from arils of upper leaves. Bracts linear subulate. Pedicels subabsent to 1 mm. Calyx 4-5.5 mm, tubular, thin-textured, throat oblique, eglandular or glandular pilose with sessile oil globules; teeth unequal, narrow triangular, acute to acuminate, shorter than to subequalling tube. Corolla mauve to violet blue, 8-9.5 mm; tube exserted from calyx. Nutlets 1.7 x 0.8 mm, pale brown, ellipsoid, tuberculate, with a U-shaped areole extending almost its entire length.

Fl. Per.: May-June.

Type: Afghanistan, Nuristan, Pashki, Edelberg 619 (W!, C).

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, NW Pakistan.

Usually growing in rock crevices, ledges or scree. With some affinities to Nepeta grociliflora, but with a much thicker woodier rootstock. Also related to Nepeta aff. hindostana which has very similar and characteristic nutlets with a long extended U-shaped areole.