Family: Lamiaceae Martinov
Distribution: Western and central part of the Mediterranean region – from Portugal and northwestern Africa to Croatia. It is grown as an ornamental shrub also in other areas of the Mediterranean.
Ecology: It grows on limestone rocks in the coastal areas, up to an elevation of 600 m asl. It blooms from March to June.
Description: Evergreen shrub, up to 120 cm tall. Branches 4-angled, white-tomentose. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, lanceolate to ovate, up to 4 cm long, entire, tomentose beneath, thinly tomentose, often becoming glabrous and shining above. Verticillasters 2-flowered, bracts leaf-like, calyx campanulate, white-tomentose, corolla 15–25 mm, blue or lilac, with one 5-lobed lip, upper lip of corolla absent, stamens long-exserted. The fruits are nutlets.
Threat and protection: The Shrubby Germander is protected by law in France.
Note: The genus Teucrium contains approximately 250 species of herbs and shrubs, which are distributed almost worldwide.
These images were taken in Italy, Gargano, Torre Gattarella (April 19, 2008).
