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LAMIACEAE Martinov (LABIATAE Juss.)

Large family of about 245 genera and about 7,880 species of subshrubs and herbaceous plants, rarely trees and lianas, distributed throughout the entire world, except for the polar regions. In North Africa it is composed of about 25 genera and is represented throughout the region. Although there are numerous genera of this family with woody species, usually they are subshrubs smaller than 0.5 m in height (Thymus, Micromeria, Satureja, etc.), althrough several genera have species that sometimes exceed this height, with their longly pedunculate inflorescences (Hyssopus, Salvia, Sideritis, etc.). Distinctly woody shrubs, up to 1.5(2) m in height, only appear in the genera Rosmarinus, Teucrium and Lavandula.

Key to the genera with shrubby species, and with subshrubby species (woody at least at the base) that are greater in height:

Key to genera

1 Corolla hypocrateriform or infundibuliform or ± actinomorphic 2

1 Corolla bilabiate or unilabiate, clearly zygomorphic 4

2 Corolla tube of c. 3 mm, shorter than the calyx. Stamens only slightly exserted. Calyx globose at fruiting, completely enclosing the fruit Saccocalyx

2 Corolla tube 5-25 mm, longer than the calyx. Stamens longly exserted. Calyx ± star-shaped at fruiting, not enclosing the fruit 3

3 Inflorescences axillary. Calyx lobes slightly accrescent at fruiting. Testa of nutlets suberose Volkameria

3 Inflorescences generally terminal. Calyx lobes clearly accrescent at fruiting. Testa of nutlets not suberose Clerodendrum

4 Androecium with 2 stamens 5

4 Androecium with 4 stamens 6

5 Corolla upper lip hooked. Anthers with long connective, articulated with the filament Salvia

5 Corolla upper lip concave, not hooked. Anthers with short connective, not articulated with the filament Rosmarinus

6 Corolla with 1 lip, inferior, with 5 lobes, with terminal lobe much larger. Stamens exserted Teucrium

6 Corolla with 2 lips. Stamens included in the corolla upper lip 7

7 Corolla 20-35 mm Phlomis

7 Corolla 3-22 mm 8

8 Corolla 5-10 mm. Calyx with 10-13 veins Satureja

8 Corolla 10-20 mm. Calyx with 5-22 veins 9

9 Calyx hypocrateriform, with 5-10(15) patent teeth Ballota

9 Calyx campanulate, infundibuliform or bilabiate, with 5-10 teeth ± straight or outwardly curved 10

10 Upper tooth of calyx with apical extension cordate or obovate Lavandula pp

10 Upper tooth of calyx without apical extension 11

11 Calyx with 11-22 veins 12

11 Calyx with 5-10 veins 17

12 Spikes of verticillasters, dense, grouped in glomeruli Origanum

12 Spikes of verticillasters lax or dense, not grouped in glomeruli 13

13 Leaves pinnatisect or bipinnatisect Lavandula pp

13 Leaves entire, crenate or crenulated 14

14 Calyx with 2 lateral keels ciliated, with dorsiventrally compressed tube Thymbra

14 Calyx without lateral keels, with tube campanulate or cylindrical 15

15 Flowers blue. Inflorescences spiciform, ± unilateral. Nutlets 2.2-2.5 mm Hyssopus

15 Flowers white, cream, purple or violet. Inflorescence in spikes of verticillasters, not unilateral. Nutlets 0.5-2 mm 16

16 Nutlets c. 2 mm. Calyx actinomorphic, with 5 subequal teeth. Stamens with convergent filaments Micromeria

16 Nutlets 0.5-1.2 mm. Calyx bilabiate, lower lip with 2 long teeth and upper lip with 3 short teeth Thymus pp

17 Fruit fleshy, drupaceous Prasium

17 Fruit dry, in 4-nutlets 18

18 Calyx bilabite, with lower lip with 2 long teeth and upper lip with 3 short teeth Thymus pp

18 Calyx actinomorphic, with 5-10 subequal teeth, or with 5 teeth with upper tooth longer and wider than the other 4 19

19 Calyx with 10 teeth sharply curved outwardly Marrubium

19 Calyx with 5 or 10 straight or slightly curved teeth 20

20 Leaves linear, oblanceolate or spatulate Sideritis

20 Leaves broadly ovate-lanceolate, ovate or suborbicular 21

21 Corolla 10-12 mm. Calyx with 8-10 teeth, oblongish and closed at fruiting Leucas

21 Corolla 16-18 mm. Calyx with 5 teeth, obconic and open at fruiting Otostegia

Updated by: B. Valdés.

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