Subfamily

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

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

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

Description

Subshrubs, aromatic; leaves entire, usually conduplicate, young leaves in axillary fascicles; inflorescence a condensed, terminal, spiciform or capituliform thyrse, composed of congested verticillasters; bracts not leaf-like, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, sometimes coloured; bracteoles elliptic to lanceolate; calyx 2-lipped, 5-lobed (3/2), cylindric, with two ą conspicuous lateral keels, scarcely accrescent, 12-23-nerved, posterior lobes short, triangular, anterior lobes lanceolate, upcurved, throat bearded; corolla 2-lipped, 4-lobed (1/3), cream to purple, posterior lobe ą rounded, straight, emarginate, anterior lip with lobes suborbicular, median lobe down-curved; stamens 4, inserted in middle of tube, filaments curved, exserted, thecae divaricate, confluent; stigma-lobes equal to subequal; disc entire; nutlets ovoid, ą smooth. 2n = 30. Four species, Mediterranean region, Anatolia and N Iraq.

Distribution

Native to:

12 Southwestern Europe
13 Southeastern Europe
20 Northern Africa
34 Western Asia

Synonyms

Abulfali Adans., Fam. Pl. 2: 190 (1763).

Coridothymus Rchb.f., Oesterr. Bot. Wochenbl. 7: 160 (1857).

Publication

Thymbra L., Sp. Pl. 2: 569 (1753); Morales, An. Jard. Bot Madrid 44, 2: 349-380 (1987), rev.

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Species found in RBG Kew living collections

2006-513 Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. N LARI  F TRO_N 1
1969-19385 Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.     154 0209   : ALP_N TYF 1g1b
2001-1906 Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.  GNED   ALP_N TYF 1g1b
2001-825 Thymbra spicata N PRBG   154 0706

Image resource

Š Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew