Family |
Lamiaceae
Ballota saxatilis subsp. saxatilis
Sieber ex C. Presl
Ballota saxatilis subsp. saxatilis
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, Pl. LXVII nº 3; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Suffrutescent at the base, with numerous ascending stems, bare below, branching above, 20–60 cm tall, hispid with spreading hairs.
Leaves: Hispid with spreading hairs, upper surface green to greyish, underside canescent, crenate, cordate-ovate to orbicular, variably petiolate.
Inflorescence & flowers: Pseudoverticils slightly loose, subpedunculate, with 8–10 flowers. Bracts subulate, one-third the length of the calyx.
Calyx: Hispid with spreading hairs, tube strongly ribbed and striated; limb short with unequal teeth, often remaining erect.
Corolla: Pale pink, tube subexserted; upper lip hirsute, bifid.
Phenology: Flowers from May to September.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky slopes.
Lebanese distribution: Ct. Nahr Saïnik, Saïda, Nahr Aouali, above Saïda, above Beirut, Antélias, Nahr el-Kelb, Jbaïl, Ras Chekka, Chekka, Qalmoun, Tripoli, Kefr Kahal, Marassia; Mi. Between Besri and ‘Amatour, Jabal Terbol, Temple of Bziza, Douma, Ghazir, Harissa; Mm. Hasroun, Jabal Barouk; Sud. Jisr el-Khardali; Met. Machghara, Zahlé, ‘Amiq; Herm. Hasbaya, Rachaya, Hermon.
Regional range: Iraq, southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine