I.C. Hedge

Perennial herb. Stems rather sturdy, erect, 60-100 cm, not branched or branched in inflorescence region, terete, with long spreading eglandular hairs and a dense covering of shorter adpressed retrorse hairs. Leaves ovate or ovate-oblong, c. 3-5 x 3.5-4 cm, ± regularly serrate-serrulate, acute, cordate, greyish tomentose abaxially; petiole on lower leaves 0.5-1 cm. Flowers in terminal 4-ranked, spike-like racemes; inflorescence axis with numerous capitate glandular hairs. Bracts prominent, often coloured purplish, imbricate, larger than calyces, ovate-cordate, acuminate. Pedicels c. 3 mm, ± erect. Calyx bilabiate, 4-6 mm, triangular-campanulate, glandular pilose; upper lip 3-toothed with median tooth longer and larger than laterals; lower lip with two upwardly curved lanceolate-acuminate teeth; tube with villous hairs internally. Corolla 8-10 mm, pinkish. Nutlets 1.3 x 1.1 mm, ovate-orbibcular, slightly rugose-reticulate.

Fl. Per.: August-October.

Type: Nepal.

Distribution: Pakistan; Kashmir, NW India, Himalayas to Nepal, Bhutan, China, Malaysia.

A distinctive species characterized by the large bracts, the 4-sided inflorescence and the regularly serrate-serrulate, ovate-cordate, leaves. The Rawalpindi locality is far disjunct from the other stations of this Himalayan species. Locally common in Margalla Hills on shady slopes above 1000 m.