STACHYS OCYMASTRUM

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. OLISIA

Common Names:- Hairy woundwort

Homotypic Synonyms:- Galeopsis hirsuta, Sideritis ocymastrum, Stachys

hirta, Tetrahitum hirtum.

Meaning:- Stachys (Gr) Spike-like.

Ocymastrum (L) Somewhat resembling Ocimum A name used by the

Greek philosopher Theophrastus for an aromatic plant.

General description:- Erect, hirsute annual.

Stems:-

1) 15-40 cm tall, sparsely pilose throughout.

Leaves:-

1) 10-50 x 7-40 mm,10-50 × 7-40 mm, oblong-ovate to broadly ovate, obtuse,

slightly cordate at the base, crenate-serrate, hirsute.

2) Cauline, similar but short-petiolate to subsessile.

3) Lower, long-petiolate.

Flowers:-

1) In several, 4-6-flowered verticillasters, confluent above.

2) Calyx, c. 8 mm, campanulate;

a) teeth, equalling the tube, triangular, acuminate.

3) Corolla, 12-20 mm, distinctly exceeding calyx;

a) upper lip, whitish.

b) lower, whitish in the basal half with small purple dots, yellow in the apical half.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, 4, 1-seeded.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 12-20 mm, distinctly exceeding calyx.

2) Calyx teeth, equalling the tube.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Olive groves, field margins, seasonally wet spots in open dry shrubby

vegetation. 0-300m.

Distribution:- A South-West Europe plant reaching as far as Italy. A rare plant on

Crete confined a couple of locations in the west.

Flowering time:- Apr- May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis