Family |
Lamiaceae
Phlomis viscosa
Poir.
Phlomis viscosa Poir.
(in Lam., Encycl. 5: 271; 1804 – Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CLXV nº 3; 1969)
• Life-form & habit: Perennial subshrub 50–120 cm tall, erect and much-branched, with stems and leaves densely covered by sticky glandular hairs exuding a strong resinous scent — a distinctive feature of this species.
• Leaves: Opposite, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 5–12 × 2–5 cm; upper surface dark green and viscid, lower surface greyish-green, softly tomentose; margin entire or slightly undulate, apex acute; petiole 1–3 cm long, gradually shortening upward.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Verticillasters of 6–12 flowers arranged in several distant whorls along the upper part of the stems. Calyx tubular-campanulate, 12–15 mm long, 10-veined, densely glandular-hairy, with 5 nearly equal triangular teeth. Corolla bilabiate, bright yellow, 25–30 mm long; upper lip arched and entire, lower lip trilobed with a large median lobe. Stamens exserted beneath the upper lip.
• Fruit: Nutlets ovoid, smooth and brown, enclosed by the persistent calyx.
• Phenology: Flowers from March to June; fruits ripen in summer.
• Habitat & elevation: Dry, sunny slopes, open scrub, and rocky hillsides, often on limestone or basaltic soils, 100–1 200 m; thrives in degraded garrigue and post-fire vegetation.
• Lebanese distribution: Common in the lower and middle mountain zones of Mount Lebanon — recorded by Mouterde from Beirut, Jezzine, Barouk, Falougha, and Dahr el-Baïdar; also frequent in the Beqaa and Anti-Lebanon foothills.
• Native range: Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Türkiye (POWO).
• ⚠️ Taxonomic note: A characteristic Levantine Phlomis species easily recognised by its viscid glandular indumentum and bright yellow corollas. Sometimes confused with P. fruticosa L., which has greyish-tomentose, non-sticky leaves. Phlomis viscosa is a key element of eastern Mediterranean scrub vegetation and an indicator of semi-arid slopes.