I.C. Hedge

Low-growing tuberous perennial. Tuber 8-20 mm in diameter. Stems several, prostrate-ascending, 10-25 cm, forming loose mats, slender, branched or not, finely puberulous to villous with ± retrorse white hairs, usually eglandular throughout, leafy. Leaves concolorous, green, broad triangular-ovate, 5-20 x 5-15 mm, broad truncate to cordate, serrulate to serrate, acute, finely eglandular pilose to villous, with few or no sessile oil glands abaxially; petiole 5-15 mm on lower leaves; tufts of younger leaves often present in leaf axils. Inflorescence a terminal compact ovoid or cylindrical head, subtended or not by uppermost leaves; rarely lowermost verticillaster separate. Inner bracts linear-subulate, c. as long as calyces. Calyx often purplish, 6-7 mm, tubularobtriangular, eglandular pilose to papillose-glandular; throat almost straight; teeth somewhat unequal, narrow triangular to linear triangular, 1/2 to as long as tube, ciliate. Corolla mauve to purplish, 7-11 mm; tube shortly exserted, slightly expanded at throat; upper lip straight or hooded; lower lip somewhat longer than upper, recurved. Nutlets 1-1.2 x 0.8-1 mm, light brown, broadly ovoid-suborbicular, not trigonous, shiny, with a small basal transverse areole.

Fl. Per.: April to June.

Type: Kashmir [B-8 Jhelum valley, Baramula to Setoune, 7 May] Jacquemont (K!, P).

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, NW India.

Of uncertain affinity: although the inflorescence is somewhat similar to the multiform Nepeta podostachys s.l, the nutlets are quite different from it and its allies. According to Stewart (l.c.), the tubers are edible. Growing in open places, among shady rocks in oak or conifer forest.