Micromeria imbricata var. imbricata

imbricata: overlapping like tiles or imbricate.

Erect, ascending or sometimes decumbent, shrubby, aromatic perennial herb, up to c. 1 m tall. Stems woody near the base, hairy. Leaves opposite, ovate to almost circular, 6-12 mm long, somewhat stiffly leathery, papillose to hairy above, often with sessile glands on the veins beneath; margin almost entire; petiole less than 3 mm long. Flowers in 3-20-flowered, axillary clusters, concentrated towards the end of the stems. Calyx tubular, prominently 13-veined, 2.3–4.5 mm long in fruit. Corolla 4-9 mm long, mauve or violet, sometimes white, 2-lipped; upper lip emarginate, lower lip 3 lobed, flat with broad, somewhat emarginate central lobe.

Frequent

Widespread from the Arabian Peninsula to South Africa.