Much branched low shrub with a thick woody rootstock and ascending-erect flowering stems to 40 cm. Stems with an eglandular indumentum of very short spreading or retrorse hairs, rather densely leafy. Leaves variable in shape, linear oblong to elliptic, 8-15 x 3-5 mm, with reddish punctate glands and with or without very short eglandular hairs, apically acute, basally cuneate, subsessile. Verticillasters below shortly pedunculate and distinct, upper ± sessile and conferted forming elongated spikes 7-15 cm long. Bracts shorter than calyx tube. Calyx c. 4 mm long, with ± spreading short hairs and red punctate glands; teeth triangular to triangular-lanceolate, c. 2/3 length of tube. Corolla white or pale rose, 5-6.5 mm long. Nutlets c. 1.5 x 0.5 mm, trigonous, apically somewhat umbonate or beaked.

Fl. Per.: September-October.

Type: Several syntypes from [USSR Central Asia], W. Tadzhikistan, Regel (LE).

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, Chitral, Kashmir, Tadzhikistan.

This is a distinct species, somewhat variable throughout its total range in leaf shape (in Pakistan, linear-oblong; in C Asia, to broad lanceolate). Possibly more widespread than the three cited records would imply. The genus is apparently most closely related to Satureja (certainly not Mentha to which it was allied in the original description); its status is somewhat uncertain.