Perennial, herbaceous, strongly aromatic, lemon-scented, pale yellowish green. Stems few to several from a woody rootstock, up to 60 cm, erect, sturdy, quadrangular, below eglandular pilose, above with a dense indumentum of short glandular hairs and sessile oil globules. Leaves distributed over stem, few, elliptic to ovate-oblong, c. 6-14 x 2-8 cm, margin subentire to irregularly serrate or lobed, apex usually acute, occasionally rounded, below with short eglandular hairs and numerous sessile oil globules; petiole on median cauline leaves up to 10 cm. Inflorescence widely branched; verticillasters 2-6-flowered, clearly distant. Bracts broadly ovate, up to 25 x 20 mm but variable in size. Pedicels short, c. 2 mm in flower and fruit, erect-spreading. Calyx distinctly tubular, 14-17 mm in flower elongating and somewhat hardening to c. 20 mm in fruit, but scarcely widening, with a thick indumentum of capitate glandular hairs and sessile oil globules; teeth of upper and lower lips distinct, spinulose. Corolla white, 20-30 mm long; tube clearly exserted from calyx lips, ± straight, not invaginated, esquamulate; upper lip somewhat falcate. Lower thecae sterile dolabriform, adhering. Nutlets broad ovoid, shiny brown with darker venation, c. 2.8 x 2.3 mm.

Fl. Per.: April-June.

Type: [Iran, Fars] inter Fasa et Shiraz, Aucher-Eloy 5197 [holo G!].

Distribution: N. Iraq, Iran, Caucasus, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

A very abundant and polymorphic plant in Iran and Afghanistan, but less variable in our area. Related to Salvia moocroftiana and where the two species grow together, hybridization may occur: Lace 3402 cited above has some characters of Salvia moocroftiana.

The field note of Lace 3777 records ‘seeds used for fever and wounds’.