Lamiaceae

Nepeta L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 570 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Temp. Eurasia, Macaronesia to E. Tropical Africa.

Descriptions

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, sometimes gynodioecious or dioecious
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences thyrse-like, dense (in Somali species); bracts ± leaf-like; cymes 1–many-flowered; bracteoles shorter or longer than the calyces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 5-lobed, 15-ribbed; lobes subequal or slightly unequal-Corolla 2-lipped; upper lip straight, shallowly hooded or flat, 2-lobed or emarginate; lower lip longer than the upper lip, 3-lobed with a larger often concave and/or dentate midlobe
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens directed to the upper lip of the corolla, posterior pair longer; thecae divaricate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style-branches almost equally long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets ellipsoid, with a prominent areole at the scar, tuberculate at least in the apical part (in the Somali species).
Distribution
Genus with over 250 species in India and the temperate parts of the Old World.
[FSOM]

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
Subshrubs or annual or perennial herbs, aromatic, sometimes gynodioecious
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences thyrsoid, cymes lax to congested, pedunculate or sessile, axillary, distant, or crowded into spike-like or ovoid heads
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts leaf-like or reduced, sometimes longer than calyx
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular to campanulate, actinomorphic to strongly 2-lipped, 5-lobed (3/2), or rarely with lips entire, lobes subequal to unequal, throat straight to strongly oblique
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), blue, violet, pink, yellow or white, posterior lip straight or curved, anterior lip with median lobe concave or ± flat, undulate or entire, tube included in or exserted from calyx, straight or curved, gradually or ± abrupt
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens of hermaphrodite flowers 4, rarely 2 with anterior pair absent, usually shorter than corolla, filaments parallel, thecae divergent at 180° (stamens of male-sterile flowers rudimentary)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma-lobes subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc 4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets ellipsoid to obovoid, rounded to acuminate, smooth to tuberculate, glabrous or hairy at apex, mucilaginous or not.
Note
2n = 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 54.  Over 200 species. For a synopsis of infrageneric classification, see Budantsev (1993).
Ecology
Mainly in mountains, semi-deserts and steppes
Distribution
Eurasia, extending into North Africa. Introduced to New Zealand, Northern America and Southern South America. Doubtfully present in Russian Far East
[LKGF]

Lamiaceae (Labiatae), A.J. Paton, G. Bramley, O. Ryding, R.M. Polhill, Y.B. Harvey, M. Iwarsson, F. Willis, P.B. Phillipson, K. Balkwill, C.W. Lukhoba, D.F. Otieno, & R.M. Harley. Nepeta, RM Polhill. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, aromatic
Morphology Stem
Stems quadrangular, with simple hairs, glandular or not
Morphology Leaves
Leaves undivided, crenate, lower ones ± petiolate, upper ones often sessile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences thyrsoid, the cymes lax or congested, sessile or pedunculate, often crowded into heads or spikes; bracts leaf-like to reduced; bracteoles present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular to campanulate, straight or curved, slightly to strongly 2-lipped, the mouth straight or oblique, the tube strongly 15-veined; posterior lip with 3 teeth, lower with 2
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white to yellow or blue, 2-lipped; posterior lip short, ± straight, shortly 2-lobed; anterior lip with a concave or flat, bearded, often crenate middle lobe and two small lateral lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, sometimes rudimentary in male sterile flowers, ascending under posterior lip of corolla; posterior pair longer than the anterior pair; anthers with thecae divergent at 180°
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk 4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary deeply 4-lobed, style gynobasic, exserted, shortly 2-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets ellipsoid to obovoid, smooth or tuberculate, with a conspicuous abscission scar, mucilaginous or not when wetted.
[FTEA]

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
Annual or perennial herbs, aromatic
Morphology Leaves
Leaves entire to bipinnate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence thyrsoid, cymes sessile, terminal, crowded into spike-like, usually unbranched heads
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts, except sometimes the lowest, reduced, sometimes broadly ovate, coloured, or subulate, inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles subulate, inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx straight or weakly oblique, actinomorphic or 2-lipped, 5-lobed, lobes ovate-oblong to lanceolate, acute or attenuate into spinulose awns, sinuses between anterior teeth with swollen folds at base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla strongly 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), white or blue-violet, posterior lip straight, anterior lip with median lobe flat or scarcely concave, entire to crenate, tube included or scarcely exserted from calyx, gradually widening above
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens with anterior pair antrorsely bent, posterior pair arcuate-ascending under upper lip, thecae divergent at 90° or at an acute angle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma-lobes subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc 4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets oblong to elliptic, smooth, mucilaginous or not.
Note
2n = 12.  Three species.
Ecology
Steppes
Distribution
Southern Siberia, Mongolia and China.
[LKGF]

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 herbs, aromatic
Morphology Stem
Flowering stems erect or ascending, densely leafy above and bare below with small scale-leaves and long rhizomes
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, sessile or subsessile, densely imbricate, ± orbicular to reniform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence thyrsoid, terminal, cymes few-flowered, sessile, partially obscured in axils of upper bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts leaf-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles entire, linear, shorter than calyces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower resupinate or not
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular or campanulate, curved or ± straight, indistinctly 2-lipped, 5-lobed (3/2), lobes ovate to linear, posterior lobes longer, calyx-tube annulate or glabrous within
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla strongly 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), white or purplish, posterior lip short, straight, bifid, anterior lip with median lobe oblong or orbicular, lateral lobes oblong-ovate, tube gradually dilated towards apex, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens included or exserted, filaments parallel, thecae parallel or divergent at 90°
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma-lobes subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets oblong, smooth, glabrous.
Note
Four or five species.
Ecology
High alpine screes
Distribution
Himalaya and China.
[LKGF]

Uses

Use
Some cultivated for medicinal use or ornament.
[LKGF]

Sources

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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