Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Other common names
mock pennyroyal
falsepennyroyal
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4 to 10 inches
Riparian
No
Perennial with slender wiry stems, herbage smooth to slightly downy with very short hairs; leaves are smooth, without any teeth; conspicuously veined; many small, light purple nectar-rich flowers.
Stems leafy; leaves narrow, mostly ascending, lateral veins prominent, straight and parallel; flowers light purple, 5 petals, 2 upper and 3 lower; sepals spreading after forming a slightly distended tube.
Habitat
Rocky slopes in canyons.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
1 to 7 flowers in the upper leaf axils, each on a 1/4 inch long stem; tube formed by sepals about 1/4 inch long; covered with stiff, short hairs; upper lobes are triangular-lance-shaped, broader than the lower ones; flowers purplish; tube 1/2 inch long.
Flower color
Light purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Branched from base; stiffly erect or ascending; simple with smooth margins; slightly lance-shaped or an oblong oval; 1/4 to 3/4 inch long; to 1/4 inch wide; noticeable veins.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Ovary deeply 4-parted, with 4 nutlets.
Fruit type
Nutlet