Lavandula stoechas L.

Small, densely branched shrub, with stellate tomentum, strongly aromatic. Lvs 0.8–3 cm long, sessile, revolute, grey, linear-lanceolate or linear, (linear lvs commonly forming axillary fascicles subtended by a larger linear-lanceolate lf). Peduncle c. = spike. Spike 1.5–3 cm long (excluding plume of sterile apical bracts), composed of very densely packed verticels of fls. Fertile bracts 5–6 mm long, rhombic-cordate, green or brownish; sterile bracts 1–2 cm long, obovate or spathulate, mauve. Calyx 4–7 mm long, tubular, tomentose outside; teeth acute; appendage broad and ± reniform. Corolla 5–8 mm long; tube > calyx; upper tube and lobes dark purple; lobes 1–1.5 mm long, broader than long, subequal. Nutlets c. 2 mm long, broad-oblong, mucilaginous when wet.

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

Flowering: Sep.–Dec.