6. Dracocephalum moldavica L., Sp. Pl. 595. 1753. Benth. in DC., Prodr. 12: 401. 1848; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 665. 1885; Mukerjee in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 14, 1: 136. 1940; Wealth of India, Raw Materials 3: 112. 1952; Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 611. 1972; Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 150: 230. 1982; Adylov et al. in Vvedensky, Conspect. Fl. As. Med. 9: 65. 1987.
I.C. Hedge
Annual, aromatic. Stems 15-30 cm, erect, usually branched from near the base, puberulous with short ± retrorse eglandular hairs. Leaves c. 12-25 x 7-15 mm, ± oblong-ovate, crenate to dentate, truncate to cuneate, on both surfaces with a short eglandular indumentum, and sessile oil globules below. Verticillasters c. 6-flowered, distant below, ± approximately above; bracts oblong, with long awns. Pedicels 2-5 mm, flattened. Calyx 8-10 mm, bilabiate, with prominent ‘folds’ at the sinuses; indumentum of very short eglandular hairs and scattered sessile oil globules; upper lip of 3 ovate subequal mucro¬nate teeth; lower lip of 2 lanceolate mucronate teeth. Corolla c. 20 mm long, bright blue violet, externally pilose. Nutlets 2.5 x 1.2 mm oblong, trigonous, brown, apically truncate, with a prominent V-shaped attachment scar.
Fl. Per.: July-September.
Type: [E Europe] Moldavia (LINN 746/12 - photo!).
Distribution: Europe, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Asia.
Our records may all be of ornamental, cultivated or naturalized plants. In some other areas, e.g. India, it is cultivated for its essential oils (cf. Wealth of India l.c.).
