Micromeria graeca, (L.) Bentham ex Reichenb.

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 : 169

20. M. graeca (L.) Bentham ex Reichenb. , op. cit. 311 (1831)

( Satureja graeca L. ).

Sparsely pubescent to hirsute or hispid dwarf shrub 10-50 cm with many erect or ascending, usually simple stems. Leaves 5-1 2x2-7 mm, the lower ovate, acute, the upper lanceolate or linear-lanceolate with revolute margins. Verticillasters shortly pedunculate with (2—)6—18 usually erectopatent, shortly pedicellate flowers, usually about equalling the subtending leaves; bracts mostly not more than £ as long as calyx. Calyx (2-)3-5 mm, villous in throat; teeth £ - | as long as tube, lanceolate-subulate, unequal. Corolla 6-8(-13)mm, purplish. Nutlets obtuse or shortly apiculate. Mediterranean region, C. & S. Portugal. BI Co Cr Ga G r Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Tu. 1 Axillary fascicles of leaves present on stems; corolla-tube

4-6 mm longer than calyx-tube (g) subsp. fruticulosa 1 Axillary fascicles of leaves absent

2 Flowering in autumn; lower leaves ovate, fugacious, the rest linear; corolla-tube 5-6 mm longer than calyx-tube; minutely scabrid-puberulent (f) subsp. consentina 2 Flowering usually in spring; lower leaves ovate-lanceolate,

the rest linear or linear-lanceolate, or all except the floral leaves ovate

3 Verticillasters rather strict, mostly with 2-4 subsessile flowers; nutlets shortly apiculate (e) subsp. tenuifolia 3 Verticillasters ± divaricate, mostly with 4-18 shortly pedicellate flowers; nutlets obtuse, not apiculate

4 Pubescent; corolla-tube 2-4 mm longer than calyx-tube

5 Middle and upper leaves ovate to linear-lanceolate; stems stout (a) subsp. graeca 5 Middle and upper leaves linear; stems slender, filiform

(b) subsp. imperica 4 Hispid or tomentose; corolla-tube 4-6 mm longer than calyx-tube

6 Tomentose; upper leaves linear; verticillasters lax, the peduncles distinctly divergent (c) subsp. garganica 6 Hispid; upper leaves linear-lanceolate; verticillasters more dense, the peduncles suberect or erecto-patent

(d) subsp. longiflora