Herbs erect, perennial, pilose. Basal leaves long petiolate; leaf blade broadly ovate to lanceolate, base strongly cordate, margin coarsely crenate. Verticillasters many flowered, in terminal spikes; floral leaves sessile; bracteoles at least as long as calyx. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 5-veined, hairy, glabrous at throat inside; teeth 5, equal, straight, rigidly spinescent. Corolla cylindric, at least as long as calyx, 2-lipped, without hairy annulus inside, straight or slightly curved downward, rarely dilated at throat; upper lip concave, margin entire or emarginate; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed; middle lobe longer than lateral lobes, obtuse to emarginate. Stamens 4, parallel, ascending to underside of upper lip of corolla; anterior stamens longer, rarely curved laterally at throat after anthesis; anther cells 2, subparallel. Style apex subequally 2-cleft. Nutlets rounded to subtruncate.

About 15 species: SW Asia, Europe; one species cultivated in China.

Many workers consider Betonica to be synonymous with Stachys.