Sideritis hirsuta, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 140

4. S. hirsuta L. , Sp. Pl. 575 (1753)

(inch S. hirtula Brot. ).

Moderately to densely hairy perennial up to 50 cm, with at least some long, more or less straight, patent hairs on the stem. Leaves 10-20x4-10 mm, mostly obovate-oblong, incise-dentate or -crenate, green or grey-green. Verticillasters 4-15, usually c. 6-flowered, usually distant. Lower bracts 6-15x8-2 0 mm, about equalling or shorter than calyx, ovate-cordate, incisedentate. Calyx 5-8(-9) mm, usually eglandular, with a ring of hairs inside. Corolla 8-10 mm, with white or pale yellow upper lip and pale or bright yellow lower lip, rarely entirely white. Dry, open habitats. • S. W. Europe. Ga Hs It Lu.

Very variable in S. Spain, where many populations occur whose taxonomic status and position are uncertain.

5. bubanii Font Quer , Butll. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat. 20: 141 (1920), from N.E. Spain (prov. Lérida), is like some variants of 4 but is tomentose, with many-flowered verticillasters, bracts equalling or longer than calyx, with subspinescent teeth, and corolla with the upper lip shorter than the lower (not longer as in 4). It also shows affinities with 6 and 8 and its status is not clear.