I.C. Hedge

Perennial herb. Stems ± sturdy at base, up to 70 cm, regularly leafy, almost glabrous or with short eglandular hairs. Leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, 2-8 x 1-2 cm, deeply serrate to ± pinnatifid; indumentum as on stem, finely gland-dotted or not on both surfaces. Verticillasters up to 17, distant, 0.7-10 mm in diameter, ± globose. Bracts ovate, membranous, shorter than or equal to calyces. Calyx 2.5-3 mm, finely eglandular-pilose or with some capitate glandular hairs; teeth subequal, longer than tube, narrow lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla white usually flecked with purplish markings, c. 4 mm. Stamens 2, shortly exserted. Nutlets flattened, c. 1.1 x 1 mm, pale brown with a thickened marginal rim, subapically papillate-glandular, exserted beyond calyx tube.

Fl. Per.: July-November.

Type: Europe (LINN 36/1 - microfiche!).

Distribution: Eurasia.

Although Lycopus europaeus var. exaltata (L.) Hook. f. was recorded from our area by Stewart (1972, l.c.), I prefer to call all the Pakistan/Kashmir specimens Lycopus europaeus without recognizing varieties. It is a variable species and a substantial number of infra-specific taxa have been recognized throughout its wide range, based on leaf, bract, calyx and staminode characters. Lycopus exaltata L. is recognized at specific rank in Europe and parts of C Asia (Tscherneva in Grubov, Pl. As. Central. 5: 91. 1970).