Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi

Rhizomatous herb; stems to c. 60 cm long, much-branched, erect or spreading, hairy, often pilose. Middle and upper stem lvs shortly petiolate. Lamina 6–20 × 4–13 mm, ovate, usually densely hairy, at least on veins, minutely glandular-punctate beneath, sometimes nearly glabrous above, entire or obscurely crenate-serrate. Infl. lax with prominent peduncles and pedicels. Bracts < lvs. Calyx 4–6 mm long, densely clothed in short hairs on nerves and teeth, dotted with oil globules, with prominent white hair tuft protruding from throat; teeth < tube, subulate; lower tooth c. 1.5 mm long. Corolla 7–10 mm long, hairy and with oil globules outside, pale mauve or bluish mauve; lower lip ± recurved, crenate, with few darker spots; upper lip emarginate. Style exserted, bluish mauve. Nutlets c. 1 mm diam., subglobular or broad-ellipsoid, minutely reticulate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Feb.