Origanum sipyleum
Origanum sipyleum
Mor mercan
Subshrub to 80 cm, tomentellous at base, otherwise glabrous. Branches to 2-6 pairs per stem, to 35 cm, usually with several pairs of small leaves; branches of 2nd order often present. Leaves petiolate to subsessile , elliptic, ovate or cordate, 3-24 x 3-15 mm, acute or obtuse, usually glaucous. Spicules 7-28 x 5-12 mm. Bracts obovate or elliptic, 4-10 x 3-6 mm, ± acute. Calyx c. 4 mm, 2-lipped to c. 1/5; upper lip with ± broadly triangular teeth to c. 2/5; lower lip c. 2/5 x upper lip, consisting of ± broadly triangular teeth. Corolla pink, 7-11 mm. Fl. 6-8. Calcareous rocks and slopes, Pinus woods, Quercus macchie, steppe, 100-1500 m.
Endemic. E. Medit. element. Related to O. hypericifolium.