Clinopodium molle (Benth.) Kuntze (1891: 515)

Bräuchler, Christian, 2018, And now for something completely different-new names in Clinopodium with comments on some types, Phytotaxa 356 (1), pp. 71-80 : 77

Clinopodium molle (Benth.) Kuntze (1891: 515)

≡ Micromeria mollis Bentham (1848: 225)

Holotype:— IRAQ. Pl. Mesopot., Kurdistan et Mossul, ann. 1841, Kotschy 552a ( K000193473 !).

Nomenclatural notes:—There is a single specimen of Kotschy 552a in Bentham´s herbarium, which we consider the holotype. In case a lectoypification is deemed necessary, this was effected by Davis (1982: 340).

= Satureja flacca Nábĕlek (1926: 44 , Fig. 12 & Tab. VI.2)

≡ Micromeria flacca (Nábĕlek) Hedge (1963: 51) .

Lectotype (designated here):— TURKEY. Turc. distr. Hakkiari [sic! = Hakkari], ad fines Persiae : Ğelo-Dagh , dit. Ğulamerik , ad rupes calcar. in valle Hawaspi , alt. ca. 1600 m, 6.9.1910, Nábělek, F. 1491 ( SAV0002382 !, isolectotype SAV0002379 !, SAV0002380 !, SAV0002381 !).

Nomenclatural notes:—The designated lectotype is the only duplicate with flowers in a set of largely fruiting plants.

Taxonomic notes:—According to a handwritten label on the lectotype, Nábĕlek first considered this to be a variety of Micromeria mollis ( Clinopodium molle ) with lax inflorescence, which he names “var. laxiramea ”. I regard this as a lax representative of C. molle collected at late flowering stage, with a habit much more erect than in typical plants.