Ballota pseudodictamnus

Ballota pseudodictamnus, the false dittany,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the southern Aegean region.

Ballota pseudodictamnus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ballota
Species:
B. pseudodictamnus
Binomial name
Ballota pseudodictamnus
(L.) Benth. 1834[1]

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.[3]

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

The Latin specific epithet pseudodictamnus means "resembling Dictamnus".[4] However, any superficial resemblance is only between young plants, and disappears when they reach maturity.

In cultivation in the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]

Distribution

Ballota pseudodictamnus is native to dry Mediterranean regions in Europe and western Asia,[5][6] including Greece (South Aegean), Egypt, Libya and Turkey. It is also an introduced species[5] in the British Isles and Italy (Sicily).

Names

Several common names are attached to this plant, including false dittany, false divinity, and Greek horehound.[7]

Synonyms
  • Marrubium pseudodictamnus L.[5]
  • Marrubium pallidum[8]
  • Beringeria pseudodictamnus (L.)[8]

References
  1. "The Plant List - Ballota pseudodictamnus". Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. "RHS Plantfinder - Ballota pseudodictamnus". Royal Horticultural Society. 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. "Ballota pseudodictamnus". perennials.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
  5. "Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  6. Springer., Ogden, Lauren (2000). Passionate gardening : good advice for challenging climates. Proctor, Rob. Golden, Colo.: Fulcrum Pub. ISBN 1555913482. OCLC 42580378.
  7. "Ballota pseudodictamnus (BLLPS)[Overview]| EPPO Global Database". gd.eppo.int. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  8. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". wcsp.science.kew.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.

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