Perennial with a rather slender woody rootstock, forming small dumps. Stems few to several, unbranched, leafy, ascending-erect, 8-30 cm, herbaceous, with very short eglandular retrorse hairs. Leaves ovate-oblong, 5-20 x 4-15 mm, often discolorous, cordate, ± regularly crenulate, below with a thin indumentum of short eglandular hairs mainly on nerves, or glabrescent; petiole of basal and lower cauline leaves up to 20 mm; upper cauline leaves decreasing in size, and shortly petiolate or sessile. Inflorescence spike-like, congested and capitate, or not; verticillasters 10-14-flowered, lowermost in leaf axils; bracts several, narrow ovate-lanceolate, 1/2-3/4 length of calyx, margins ciliate. Calyx tubular, 7-8 mm, often violet or lilac, with a rather sparse indumentum of short spreading eglandular hairs, indistinctly bilabiate; median tooth of upper lip much broader than laterals; all teeth finely subulate, ± divergent in fruit. Corolla bright violet blue to mauve, rarely white, c. 15 mm, externally pilose; tube narrow at base widening upwards; upper lip ± straight. Nutlets ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.5-1.8 x 0.8 mm, dark brown, ± smooth.

Fl. Per.: June-September.

Type: Siberia (LINN - 746/16 - microfiche!).

Distribution: USSR, C. Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Sinkiang.

Variable in stature and leaf size; a frequent plant in our area, usually growing in damp or wet places.