LAMIUM MOSCHATUM

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Lamium (Gr) Gullet (reference to the gaping mouth of the corolla).

Moschatum (Gr) Musk-like, musky-scented.

General description:- Sparsely hairy annual 10-30 cm.

Stem:-

1) 15-40 cm, ascending to erect, simple or sparingly branched, glabrous.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, long-petiolate, blade triangular-ovate, cordate at the base, crenate-

serrate, sparsely pubescent.

2) Floral, similar to the cauline but somewhat smaller, the upper usually with a

white or pinkish central blotch.

Flowers:-

1) Verticillasters, 2-5, well separated.

2) Calyx tube, campanulate, subglabrous, greenish-white; teeth somewhat longer

than the tube, subulate from a broadly triangular base.

3) Corolla white.

a) tube, 6-12 mm, curved, shorter than the calyx.

b) upper lip, 10-12 mm, hooded, entire, pilose.

c) lower lip, 6-8 mm, obovate-orbicular.

d) lateral lobes, obliquely triangular.

4) Anthers, hairy.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, obtusely trigonous, truncate at the apex.

Key features:-

1) Anthers, hairy.

2) Corolla-tube, curved at the base; with conspicuous, triangular lateral lobes.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Somewhat damp, gravelly coastal habitats, open dry shrubby vegetation,

olive groves 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Limited distribution across the Mediterranean region, On Crete

known only from west of Heraklion and the Dikti Massif. Rare.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photo by:- Dr. Armin Jagel.