CLINOPODIUM ALPINUM subsp. MERIDIONALE

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE

Common Names:- Alpine calamint

Homotypic Synonyms:-

Meaning:- Clinopodium (Gr) Bed-foot (for the knob shaped appearance of the

inflorescence.

Alpinum (L) Of mountains, alpine.

Meridionale (L) Southern, midday, of noon (flowering at midday).

General description:- Sparsely to densely pubescent perennial.

Stems;-

1) Up to 30 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Up to 15 x 11 mm, elliptical to suborbicular, acute or obtuse, rounded cuneate at

the base, entire denticulate towards the apex, without prominent veins.

Flowers:-

1) Verticillasters, 3- to 8-flowered.

2) Flowers, exceeding the bracts.

3) Calyx, 5-7 mm, usually with crispate hairs; upper lip 1·5-3 mm.

4).Corolla, 10-14 mm, violet with white markings on the lower lip.

Fruit:

1) Nutlests 4, 1-seeded.

Key features:-

1) Stems, usually not more than 30 cm.

2) Corolla, 10-14 mm,

3) Leaves, rounded cuneate at the base, not prominently veined.

4) Calyx, upper lip with teeth 0·5-1 mm, hairs crispate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open rocky and stony slopes. (100-)400-2300 m.

Distribution:- Greece, C & S.Europe, NW Africa and Anatolia. On Crete confined

to the four main massifs.

Flowering time:- May to early Sept.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis