Lepidagathis rigida Dalz.

An erect, upto 1.2 m tall undershrub with softly glandular-pubescent quadrangular twigs. Leaves almost sessile, linear-narrowly lanceolate, 6-12 cm x 6-15 mm, glandular-pubescent on both sides, nerves prominent in 8-10 pairs, attenuate at the base, acute. Flowers pale-white, in dense, simple or compound, 2.5-6 cm long glandular-pubescent spikes; bracts linear-lanceolate, 10-15 mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide, entire, rigid, acute with a sharp tip; bracteoles similar to bracts, c. 9 mm long. Calyx 4-lobed nearly to the base, lobes unequal, linear-lanceolate, glandular-pubescent. Corolla c. 1.5 cm long, hairy outside, throat glabrous; tube c. 10 mm long, upper lip rounded, emarginate, c. 5 mm long; lower lip with 3, oblong, obtuse subequal lobes. Stamens with oblong, bearded anthers. Ovary glabrous, style hairy. Capsule ovoid-lanceolate, c. 5 mm long, glabrous, 4-seeded. Seeds ovoid, c. 2.5 mm long, hairy.

Distribution: India (W. Peninsula) and Pakistan (Sind).

Fl. Per.: December-March.