Subfamily

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

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

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

Description

Weak-stemmed, often semi-scandent shrubs, aromatic, gynodioecious; leaves shallowly toothed to subentire; inflorescence of compound, congested, sometimes 2-3, often pedunculate cymes, in axils of bracts, upper cymes often forming a terminal, spiciform thyrse; bracts leaf-like, becoming reduced toward stem apex; bracteoles inconspicuous; calyx cylindrical, ą actinomorphic, 5-lobed, lobes subulate to narrowly triangular, calyx-tube often externally long-pilose, 13(-12)-nerved, throat hairy; corolla white, or pale lilac, 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), anterior lip with median lobe larger, corolla-tube hairy within, longer to shorter than calyx; stamens 4, didynamous, shorter than corolla, slightly exserted from tube, thecae slightly divergent, distinct, connective slightly dilated; stigma-lobes long, unequal, anterior longer; disc symmetrical, reddish orange; nutlets ovoid, finely reticulate. 2n = 46. Probably less than twelve spp., montane, Andes from Venezuela to Argentina. Species limits are very poorly understood.

Distribution

Native to:

82 Northern South America
83 Western South America
85 Southern South America

Publication

Minthostachys (Benth.) Spach, Hist. Veg. Phan. 9: 164 (1840); Epling, Fedde Rep. Spec. Nov. Beih. 85: 162-168 (1936), rev.

Bystropogon sect. Minthostachys Benth. (1834).

Image resource

Š Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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