Elsholtzia fruticosa (D.Don) Rehder

Habit

Shrub

Family Description

Herbs,subshrubs or shrubs,often aromatic.Stems usually quadrangular.Leaves simple,rarely pinnatisect or compound,opposite and usually decussate or rarely whorled.Stipules absent.Inflorescence of cymes,often condensed,paired and appearing as whorls(verticillasters),in spike-like,capitate or paniculate arrangements,ocassionally cymes pedunculate and lax,forming a panicle.Bracts caducous or persistent;bracteoles present or absent.Flowers usually hermaphrodite.Calyx usually 5-lobed,bilabiate to regular or oblique.Corolla gamopetalous,regular to zygomorphic,4-5 lobed.Stamens 4,equal or varying in length or 2 with 2 staminodes;anthers 1-or-2-celled.Ovary superior,4-lobed,becoming 4-celled,each locule containing 1 basally attached ovule.Style completely gynobasic(arising from base of ovary between lobes) or only partially gynobasic,2-lobed or rarely punctate.Fruit of 4,usually dry,one-seeded nutlets,included in persistent calyx

Genus Description

Herbs or shrubs.Leaves petiolate or subsessile.Inflorescence spike like,terminal and axillary;spikes slender or stout,terete or secund;whorls usually conferted.Flowers small.Bracts linear to suborbicular,sometimes imbricate.Calyx ± regular,5-toothed,teeth subequal.Corolla sub-bilabiate or bilabiate;upper lip emarginate;lower lip 3-lobed.Stamens 4,didynamous;anthers 2-celled,becoming 1-celled.Style subequally 2-lobed.Nutlets smooth or tubercled.

Species description

Shrub 1-5m.Stems pubescent-tomentose,subterete when older.Leaves sessile,lanceolate to ovate-elliptic,8-15x3-6cm,acute or acuminate,base attenuate,margins serrate or crenate-serrate,both surfaces pubescent and densely sessile-glandular.Spikes 3-11x1cm,pubescent.Bracts lanceolate,4-8mm.Calyx 1.5-2mm;teeth triangular,c 0.5mm.Corolla white or cream,4-6mm.Nutlets oblong,1.4 x 0.5mm.

Thimphu(Tsalimaphe, Dotena, Tataka), Paro, Bumthang, Gasa, Laya, upper Kulong chu(Tobrang). 2130-3505m