Lamiaceae

Satureja L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 568 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Medit. to Xinjiang.

Descriptions

Harley, R.M. et al. (2004). Labiatae, in The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants (K. Kubitzki, ed. in chief) VI: 167-275. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Morphology General Habit
Perennial or annual herbs or subshrubs, aromatic
Morphology Leaves
Leaves entire or scarcely toothed, usually conduplicate, glandular-punctate, young leaves in axillary fascicles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 2-many-flowered axillary verticillasters or cymes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts usually leaf-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 2-lipped or almost actinomorphic, campanulate, 10-13-nerved, rarely appearing 5-nerved, 5-lobed (3/2), posterior lobes straight to upcurved, anterior lobes longer, calyx-throat bearded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 2-lipped, 4-lobed, white, lilac, pink or pale-purple; posterior lobe concave, ± rounded, emarginate, anterior lip with median lobe oblong, spreading, tube ± cylindrical, straight
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, scarcely didynamous or anterior pair longer, filaments exserted, curved
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Thecae ± divaricate or parallel, ellipsoidal, confluent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma-lobes subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets ovoid, sometimes elongate or apiculate, smooth or muricate, sometimes hairy.
Note
2n = 30.  About 38 species. Divided into two sections: Satureja and Salzmannia G. López following López (1981).
Distribution
In the Mediterranean Region, Northern Africa: Morocco and Libya, Caucasus and Western Asia: Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Introduced to Northern Europe
[LKGF]

Uses

Use
Aromatic and medicinal plants used as flavouring, source of essential oils and ornamental.
[LKGF]

Sources

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Lamiaceae Key Genus Fact Sheets

    • Nina Davies, Gemma Bramley and Don Kirkup, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0