Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Pseudodictamnus
Species:
P. mediterraneus
Binomial name
Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus
Salmaki & Siadati
Synonyms
  • Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth.
  • Beringeria pseudodictamnus (L.) Neck. ex Link
  • Marrubium pallidum Salisb.
  • Marrubium pseudodictamnus L.

Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus, the false dittany,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae.[2] It is native to the southern Aegean region.

Taxonomy

Several common names are attached to this plant, including false dittany, false divinity, and Greek horehound.[3]

Etymology

The Latin specific epithet pseudodictamnus means "false dittany".[4] In this case, the resemblance is to the classical dittany of Crete, Origanum dictamnus, not to the much more distantly related genus Dictamnus in the family Rutaceae.

Description

Flowering plant: Small pink and white flowers

A low mound-forming evergreen shrub growing to 50 centimetres (20 in) tall and wide, it bears almost circular, dished, silver-green leaves with a soft felted texture; and masses of pink flowers (which are mostly hidden by the leaves) in late spring and early summer.[5]

It tolerates temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F), but requires very dry conditions and sharp drainage in full sun.

Distribution

Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus is native to dry Mediterranean regions in Europe and western Asia,[6] including Greece (South Aegean), Egypt, Libya and Turkey. It is also an introduced species in the British Isles and Italy (Sicily).

In horticulture

In cultivation in the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "RHS Plantfinder - Ballota pseudodictamnus". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus Salmaki & Siadati | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. ↑ "Ballota pseudodictamnus (BLLPS)[Overview]| EPPO Global Database". gd.eppo.int. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  4. ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
  5. ↑ "Ballota pseudodictamnus". perennials.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Springer., Ogden, Lauren (2000). Passionate gardening : good advice for challenging climates. Proctor, Rob. Golden, Colo.: Fulcrum Pub. ISBN 1555913482. OCLC 42580378.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Media related to Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.