Lamiaceae

N. transcaucasica Grossh. in Izv. Azerb. Fil. 10:38 (1944). Hedge & Lamond in Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 38:43-44 (1980). Syn: TV. glabrescens Boiss., El. Or. 4:658 (1879) p.p.! Map 39.
Perennial; stems erect, branched or not, 30-60(-90) cm, finely pilose to villous with eglandular hairs. Leaves spreading to ± erecto-patent, green to greyish-green, c. 1.2-5 x 0.5-3 cm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, crenate to serrate, ± cordate, finely to densely pilose and with few to numerous sessile glands; lower leaves shortly petiolate, upper sessile. Verticillasters ± few to many-flowered, distant, approximating above or not, lowermost pedunculate. Bracteoles linear, 2-4 mm. Calyx tubular, darkish violet, 7-9 mm, densely pilose-villous to tomentose, slightly curved and oblique; teeth subequal, triangular, acuminate, 1.5-2.5 mm. Corolla violet to violet-blue, 11-19 mm; tube slender, abruptly widening above. Nutlets broadly oblong, rounded trigonous, c. 2.4 x 1.2 mm, tuberculate. Fl. 5-8. Rocky igneous, limestone and shaly slopes, banks, meadows, nr streams, 1630-3500 m.
Type: [USSR] in Transcaucasia meridionali et in Talysch. Typus ex Schuscha, 18 vi 1929, A. Kolakowsky (holo. BAK).
Mainly S.E. Anatolia. B7 Erzincan: Keşiş Da. above Cimin, 2800 m, D. 31818! B8 Erzurum: 10 km N. of Hinis, 1630 m, D. 46228! Muş: d. Varto, Merga Sauk, 2280 m, Kotschy 367 (syntype of N. glabrescens)! B9 Erzurum: Ağri to Horasan, 2450 m, Lamond 2582! Kars: Iğdir to Kars, vii 1952, Akbaş! Ağri: 5-10 km from Hamur to Tutak, 1650 m, D. 44053! Bitlis: Süphan Da., 3300 m, D. 24757! Van: 38 km from Gevaş to Tatvan, 2240 m, D. 46074! B10 Kars: 34 km from Doğubayazit to Iğdir, Pamuk Da., 1750 m, D. 43514! Ağri: 3 km E. of Doğubayazit, 1750'm, D. 43910! C9 Hakkari: Cilo Tepe, 2950 m, D. 24091! C10 Hakkari: 21 km from Bacirge to Yüksekova, 2230 m, D.45241!
Transcaucasia, N.W. & W. Iran, N. Iraq. Ir.-Tur. element. A very variable and problematical species which probably hybridizes and introgresses with TV. racemosa and N . betonicifolia. In its most characteristic state, a medium-sized plant with spreading leaves, clearly distant verticillasters and tomentose calyces with relatively broad short teeth. In less typical specimens, influence of TV. racemosa is shown in plants with short, strongly tomentose calyces, and of TV. betonicifolia in those with a tendency towards conferted verticillasters, longer calyx teeth and suberect leaves. Some specimens from lower altitudes in B10 (e.g. Kars: Ağri Da., 1500 m, D. 43736!) are anomalous in having broadly ovate leaves and long pedunculate, numerous-flowered verticillasters.