Gypsywort

Rhizomes transverse, producing long stolons enlarged at apex, with scalelike leaves. Stems erect, 15-80 cm, unbranched or apically branched. Petiole 0-5 mm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, 3-9 × 1-4 cm or more, base attenuate, apex acuminate; lower and mid stem leaves coarsely dentate, subglabrous or sparsely pubescent, glandular. Verticillasters globose, 8-10 mm in diam.; floral leaves subsessile; outer bracteoles to 4 mm, inner ones ca. 3 mm, linear-subulate, spinescent. Calyx ca. 3 mm, puberulent, ± conspicuously 10-15-veined; teeth 4 or 5, ca. 2 mm, erect, linear-lanceolate, apex spinescent. Corolla white, red spotted on lower lip, nearly included, ca. 3 mm, puberulent; tube ca. 2.5 mm, intricately white villous inside; limb obscurely 2-lipped, ca. 0.5 mm; upper lip circular, emarginate, lobes subequal. Anterior stamens exserted, posterior 2 lacking or reduced to staminodes. Nutlets 4-sided, ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, adaxially slightly swollen, glandular at middle, base slightly attenuate, apex rounded; areolae basal, white. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Hebei, Shaanxi, Xinjiang [Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia, Europe, introduced in North America]

Field margins, streamsides, grasslands; 700-1000 m.