Suffruticose aromatic dump-forming perennial. Stems many, 30-80 cm, erect or ascending erect, with a thin indumentum of short retrorse eglandular hairs or ± glabrous, quadrangular, not or little branched. Leaves linear-elliptic to elliptic, 10-15 x 3-7 mm, subentire to crenate-serrate, cuneate, acute, rarely in tall plants with some leaves ternately pinnatisect; indumentum of short eglandular hairs and with scattered sessile oil globules on abaxial surface; dusters of young leaves generally present in leaf arils; petioles on lower leaves up to 8 mm decreasing above. Inflorescence a terminal condensed oblong spike, sometimes lowermost verticillasters distant, 20-60 mm long. Inner bracts linear, subulate, c. as long as calyces. Calyx 6-8 mm, narrow tubular-obtriangular, often purplish, eglandular pilose; throat scarcely oblique; teeth subequal, 1/2 to as long as tube. Corolla white to violet, c. 12 mm; tube exserted. Nutlets not seen.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

Type: [Soviet C Asia] Pamir, Jashil Kul, 3900 m, 28.7.1898, Paulsen 970 (C, G!).

Distribution: NE Afghanistan, adjacent parts of Pamir, Pakistan.

In common with its very dose allies (species 5-9), this is variable in habit, density of indumentum, leaf toothing and flower colour. Its most characteristic features are the narrow leaves with dusters of young leaves in their axils.