Subfamily

VII. Subfam. Nepetoideae (Dumort.) Luerss. (1882).

VII. 2. Tribe Mentheae Dumort. (1827).

VII. 2. B. Subtribe Menthinae (Dumort.) Endl. (1838).

Description

Perennial subshrub, aromatic; leaves simple, entire, usually glabrous; inflorescence of 6-many-flowered verticillasters merging to form a terminal, usually ą secund, spiciform thyrse; bracts leaf-like; flowers very shortly pedicellate, bracteolate; calyx 2-lipped (3/2), ą tubular, 15-nerved, lobes equal, deltoid, acuminate or aristate, ciliate, with thickened fold at each sinus; corolla 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), violet to whitish, posterior lip deeply emarginate, concave, patent, anterior lip with median lobe ą suborbicular, emarginate, curved downwards, lateral lobes rounded and smaller, tube cylindrical; stamens 4, inserted in middle of tube, curved, exserted, thecae divergent, confluent, connective ą triangular; stigma-lobes equal, ą acicular; nutlets ą ovoid, smooth to papillose, puberulent, with mucilaginous cells. 2n =12. Two species in Europe, NW Africa, Central and SW Asia, including China.

Distribution

Native to:

11 Middle Europe
12 Southwestern Europe
13 Southeastern Europe
14 Eastern Europe
20 Northern Africa
30 Siberia
32 Middle Asia
33 Caucasus
34 Western Asia
36 China
37 Mongolia
40 Indian Subcontinent

Introduced to:

10 Northern Europe
71 Western Canada
72 Eastern Canada
73 Northwestern U.S.A.
74 North-Central U.S.A.
75 Northeastern U.S.A.

Publication

Hyssopus L., Sp. Pl. 2: 569 (1753).

Species found in RBG Kew living collections

2008-701 Hyssopus angustifolius N GEAG   157 01
1975-1170 Hyssopus officinalis L.  RHSW  F 111 21   : DEC_N QUEENS
1994-2799 Hyssopus officinalis var. roseus     111 21   : DEC_N QUEENS
1969-19280 Hyssopus officinalis var. roseus     ALP_N SEEDOUT 06
1940-3801 Hyssopus officinalis var. violaceus  LAUS   157    : ALP_N OB

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Image resource

Š Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew