Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) Benth.

Extremely variable and at the center of a species complex distributed in Africa and SW Asia.

Essential oil used for flavoring liqueurs. Decoction used for abdominal distension, dysentery, colds, and coughs.

Subshrubs tufted, aromatic. Stems numerous, ascending, to 30 cm, subterete, slender, densely ± patent white pilose and pubescent, red-purple. Petiole 0.1-0.5 mm; leaf blade ovate, 4-5 × 2.5-3 mm, conspicuously golden yellow glandular, sparsely puberulent on midrib, base rounded to shallowly cordate, margin flat or recurved, entire, apex acute. Verticillasters 1- or 2(-5)-flowered, pedunculate; peduncle 1-2 mm; bracts and bracteoles subequal, linear-subulate, ca. 1.5 mm, ciliate. Pedicel 2-3 mm, secund, red. Calyx short tubular, 2-lipped, to 4 mm, veins puberulent, throat pilose, 13-veined, ciliate; posterior teeth narrowly triangular, ca. 1.5 mm, apex long acuminate; anterior teeth subulate, ca. 2 mm, apex spinescent. Corolla rose, ca. 6 mm, sparsely puberulent, tube ca. 4 mm; upper lip elliptic, ca. 2 mm; lower lip ca. 2.5 mm, lobes subequal or middle larger. Anterior stamens nearly included. Ovary yellow-brown, glabrous. Nutlets brown, oblong, ca. 1 mm, glabrous. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

Guizhou, Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal]

Hilly grasslands over limestone; 2000-2500 m.

Thymus biflorus Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 112. 1825; Satureja biflora Briquet; T. cavaleriei H. Léveillé.