I.C. Hedge

Shrub or suffruticose perennial. Stems several, erect, 30-45 cm, much branched below, with a very dense persistent ± yellowish brown indumentum (at least on dried specimens) of dendroid-stellate hairs. Leaves thick-textured, 4-10 x 1-2 cm, aromatic, elliptic or narrow oblong, crenulate, acute at apex, venation prominent above and below, ± cuneate up to 1.5 cm, petiole, densely tomentose below with dendroid-stellate hairs, less so above. Verticillasters 1-3 in axils of upper leaves, distant, dense c. 10-12-flowered, c. 2.5 cm in diameter. Bracts thick subulate, ± adpressed to calyces and ± as long as them. Calyx c. 12 mm, thick-textured; tube c. 11 mm, densely dendroid-stellate tomentose; teeth subulate-spinose, 1-2 mm, spreading-recurved. Corolla rose to dusky pink, c. 2 cm; tube scarcely exserted beyond calyx; upper lip dearly falcate, long white bearded within at margin. Mature nutlets not seen.

A very distinct species restricted almost entirely to Pakistan. The shrubby habit, the thick dendroid-stellate indumentum on all parts, and the rosy pink flowers are characteristic.

Syntypes: [Pakistan] Beyond the Indus, on the Suliman and Salt ranges, 2500-4500 ft., J. L. Stewart (El, K!), Talbot (K).

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, Pakistan.