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Lemon Savory, English lavender, True lavender, Lemon Scented Thyme • Hindi: बन अजवाइन Ban ajwain, Gorakhopan • Nepali: पिनासे झार Pinaase jhaar; English: Indian wild thyme;  Mundari: Ote budu ba;
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A small tufted hairy herb with hardly 6 mm long ovate leaves and  white or pink flowers in stalked axillary whorls.
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Date: 14.11.2010
place: Dalhousiae, Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh


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Kalatope id al220311a:
A small one in the pine forest..

Location Kalatope, Chamba
Altitude 2100 mts
Habit herb
Habitat wild
Height 4 inches


– This also looks close to Micromeria biflora, which is quite common in the area.


– Yes finally I agree with .., Micromeria biflora


 


Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth., Labiat. Gen. Spec. 378 1834.
syn: Satureja biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Briq.; Micromeria biflora var. indica Elly Walther & K.H.Walther
A small tufted hairy herb with hardly 6 mm long ovate leaves and  white or pink flowers in stalked axillary whorls.
Very common in Western Himalayas on open dry slopes. Photographed from Kashmir.

Lemon scented thyme!!!
never seen flowers…
Once in a while  leaves only , bunched up, turn up in super- specialty  grocery stores…


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Lamiaceae (incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight: Lamiaceae-Micromeria biflora from Kashmir-GSMAY62/64 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (4)
Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth., Labiat. Gen. Spec. 378 1834.
syn: Satureja biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Briq.; Micromeria biflora var. indica Elly Walther & K.H.Walther
A small tufted hairy herb with hardly 6 mm long ovate leaves and  white or pink flowers in stalked axillary whorls.
Very common in Western Himalayas on open dry slopes.
Photographed from Kashmir.


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Request For Species Id, DKV 120402-1:
Photographed in October 2010 at Naddi, H.P.
Flowers are about 1/2 inch long. Sent by a friend in the USA.


Judging by the place it was found and altitude (and of course the photo)… could it be Micromeria biflora


Yes it is Micromeria biflora. …


My friend in the USA confirms a perfect match


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Lavender/ABOCT06 : 9 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (3).

This plant with tiny pink flowers is found commonly here. I wonder if it’s the English Lavender.
English Lavender (Micromeria biflora)
Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP
1750m approx.
06 October 2014

Yes, this is Micromeria biflora


Yes Micromeria biflora, but I wonder how lavender name can be associated with this. Lemon African savory, Lemon savory and Lemon scented thyme go well. English lavender is Lavandula angustifolia


Thank you …, I saw the name associated with Micromeria biflora on FOI page and used it. I will remember to use one of the other common names you have given. Is it lemon scented, edible?


Lavender means at least two things:

first lavender scent of lavendula and
lavender color as in fabric and accessories color.
Lavender is ashade of violet, with pinkish or a skyblue overtones.
Ask any lady.
Queen mother of ewng; land was very fond of wearing lavender colored dresses, sign of old age.
Spiritually, lavender shades show up in meditation when concentrating on Sahasrar Charkra, on lucky days when such visualisation can be gotten to.
===
Back to this case, perhaps the colloquial name crept up because of the violet/lavender color of the flowers. (sans the scent of course) .
I am guessing of course, but the chances of this scenario being possible is very high.


My first question is answered. The plant has a beautiful lemon scent when crushed between fingers. I was tempted to taste it but decided against it. Thought I will check with you first, if it was edible like the regular thyme?


The flowers and leaves are used as a tea[272]. A powder of the dried flowers and leaves is used as a flavouring in lentil soups and curries[272]. Information is based on Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal and quoted by Plant for Future
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Micromeria+biflora


I found a few herbs growing by the roadsides and brought one sprig home to look at closely. Here are the results. This time I did not get the lemony scent by crushing the leaves.
Micromeria biflora

Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP
1800m
27 March 2015

After the morning rain light was brilliant in the afternoon when I was walking back home. There are a lot of Micromeria biflora plants now spread on the slopes and I made some new pictures to share.

Micromeria biflora
Above Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, HP
1800m approx.
16 April 2015
Attachments (8)
Seen this Creeping herb with very small size flowers.
Location: Enroute: Niharni-Neoli.
Altitude: 1800m
Date/Time: 02-10-2014 / 12:30PM

Requesting ID..

Nice capture of Micromeria biflora


Ashwini just had a case : [efloraofindia:202418] Lavender/ABOCT06

english lavender
and we had some discussion on origin of the lavender epitaph for this plant, its surmised that the taste and smell (of lemony family of smell ) must be the reason!!!
anyway that question is still open, if any aroma- specialist knows the histroy we would like to know.
thanks for these pictures …, lovely and complete.

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AKOCT28 ID please for this small herb : 2 posts by 2 authors. 3 images.
Location: Landour and Dalhousie


Micromeria biflora (Lamiaceae).

Also check in eFI page



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HP, Oct 2014 :: Requesting ID validation :: ARKJAN-15/15 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5).
Requesting to please validate ID of this small plant found in near Dharamshala, HP in October 2014.
I hope this is Micromeria biflora.


Yes you are right …


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Lamiaceae (incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight :: Lamiaceae :: Micromeria biflora :: Dharamshala :: ARKMAY-28/28 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)
Attached are pictures of Micromeria biflora captured at Dharamshala in October 2014.

Yes … Nice photographs



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ANFEB38 Please identify this herb : 6 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (4)

Date: 1st November 2014
Place: Trekking route to Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
Habit: Herb


… the sepals remind of Blepharis.


What about Micromeria ?


Yes this is Micromeria biflora, identified earlier in one of my posts by …



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Lamiaceae (incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight :: Lamiaceae :: ID Request – Micromeria :: Almora :: ARKMAY-29/29: 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (4).
Requesting to please provide ID of the plant captured at Almora in November 2012.
Is this Micromeria biflora?


This is Micromeria biflora as the leaves are very small and found only in this species as far as Indian ones are concerned.



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Lamiaceae (incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight: Lamiaceae-Micromeria biflora from Manali-GSMAY63/66 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2)
Uploading Micromeria biflora from Manali
Photographed in October, 2009



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Lamiaceae (incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight: Lamiaceae-Micromeria biflora from Chakrata-GSMAY64/67 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (2)
Micromeria biflora Photographed from Chakrata



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Lamiaceae (Incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight: Micromeria biflora-Gori Valley- NS May 60/60 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)
This is a very common species of Himalayas..
Micromeria biflora from Gori valley..



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Lamiaceae (Incl. Verbenaceae) Fortnight: Micromeria biflora from Morni Hills- NS May 79/79 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)
Please find the pics of Micromeria biflora from Morni Hills..



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ANJUN02/02 Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth. (Churdhar Trip 02): 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (6)
Family: Lamiaceae
Date: 23rd May 2015
Place: Renuka Ji-Haripurdhar Route, Himachal Pradesh

Habit: Herb


Yes …, An abundant one..



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Fwd: SK11JUN3-2016:ID : 8 posts by 4 authors.

Need your help for ID of the enclosed plant:
Location : Kathmandu
Altitude: 1500 m
Date : 30 May 2016


This could be Lindernia micrantha

wildplantsshimane
flowers.la.coocan
Distribution and elevation agrees, can’t be sure though.


Isn’t it Micromeria biflora….


… is absolutely right! This is Micromeria biflora indeed!


Yes it is ! Thank you all.


Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth. (accepted name)

Nepali Namesपिनासे झार Pinaase Jhaar / बुछ्को झार Buchhko Jhaar  / जोताने झार Jotaane Jhaar / मिश्री झार Mishree Jhaar / सिन्का झार Sinkaa Jhaar 
Location: Balaju, Raniban, Nepal  
Date: 30 March 2017
Altitude: 4800 ft
Attachments (9)

Thanks, …, for superb images and details.



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SK278DEC28-2016:ID :  4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (9)

Location: Nagarkot, Nepal 
Altitude: 7000 ft.
Date: 28 December 2016

Please check for Micromeria species (Lamiaceae).
Micromeria in eFI.


Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth. (accepted name)



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PLANT FOR ID 94 SMP JUN 09 Manali : 24 posts by 10 authors. Attachments (1)

A herb seen in Manali.
Flowers larger than the ones posted earlier (Thymus linearis)

Looks like a Lindernia species, probably Lindernia crustacea
flowersofindia


The margin of the leaves of my specimen do not appear to be toothed. Rest of the features are matching.

Funny, why should be the sps name crustacea?
this is the group of animals with 5 pairs of walking lages, included in the phylum arthropodaa.


… the epithet krus-TA-see-a — from the Latin crusta, meaning hard (or brittle) shell or rind, referring to the capsule.
Reference: Flora of Australia Online :: anbg

Can it be Lancea tibetica? of Scrophulariaceae


the plant from Manali is definitely not Lancea tibetica, not being close.  Also, one would be very surprised if this species were found around Manali as it is typically found in the borderlands of Tibet in damp places and grazing grounds. I have seen this e.g. in Zangskar. Also its altitudinal range (according to ‘Flowers of the Himalaya’) is 3000-4800m, so coming across it c. 2200m (or so) would represent a major extension of the previously known range.


Most likey Ajuga bracteosa. I hope flowers are 10-12 mm long.


this plant does not match Ajuga bracteosa – not close.  According to ‘The Plant List’ this is not a valid name but I currently do not know what Ajuga bracteosa Wallich ex Benth. should named as.  I do not have the time to check further what this might be.  Did not immediately recognise it nor have come across it around Manali myself.  As you know, it is much easier (and quicker) to tell what something is not, rather than what it is!


Not still convinced….


Thanks for not getting convinced. Yes the leaves don’t seem to be opposite. Euphrasia is another possibility but perhaps no Indian species to match.

Appears to be some Lamiaceae member. Pl. check with comparative images at Lamiaceae

may I recommend on future occasions, you take many more images per plant specimen you wish identified. Taking just one or two general images which do not reveal characteristic/diagnostic characteristics often make it much more difficult and time-consuming for those attempting to identify said images – at times it is impossible.  I suggest you consult my ‘Flowers of the NW Himalaya’ website, which has many relevant sections which should answer any questions you may have: https://sites.google.com/a/shpa.org.uk/fowh/.  I draw your attention to the entry for Impatiens glandulifera as an example of what can be done with a modestly-priced digital camera: https://sites.google.com/a/shpa.org.uk/fowh/impatiens-1 – I do not expect you to suddenly jump from taking just a single image to many but you should aim to head in this direction.  As you can see from the numerous images of ‘Himalayan Balsam’ they provide so much more information and in greater detail.  The more close-ups one can inspect the greater understanding one gets of a plant.  I hope you can see the value of this.  With practise one can learn to rapidly take close-up images in focus.  The problem with you image is that it shows little or no detail of floral parts or foliage.  There may be a member of eFI who recognises the plant with confidence but at least two of the suggestions given below are nowhere near to the correct identification.  IF you can post more quality images each time you ask for an identification, this would greatly benefit the eFI data-base.


Sir please check Micromeria biflora

… is more closer to the ID than others. I too feel that it may be Micromeria biflora. I have seen M. biflora reaching up to 2700 m in Munsyari, Pithoragarh area.
Thank you … for pointing towards correct direction.


Micromeria biflora should be right id..



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Small herb for ID :: APR2018 MK001 : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (5)

Please help me in identifying this small herb. Interpetiolar stipules present; could this be any Scrophulariaceae?
Habitat: shady moist places
Alt.: 350 m asl
Date: 20.01.2018
Place: Jammu (outskirts, rural), J & K

To me this is Micromeria biflora..


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Location Rajouri j and k Habit: Herb Habitat: Grass field: 1 high res. image.
Segregating same subject posts.


Micromeria biflora (Buch.–Ham. ex D. Don) Benth. !


Yes it’s …


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SK 3004 01 October 2021: 8 very high res. images.
Location: Kalikot, West Nepal
Altitude: 1550m., 2450m, 2560m. (Different locations and elevation)
Date: 16 August 2021
Habit : Wild
Clinopodium nepalense (Kitam. & Murata) Bräuchler & Heubl. ?? or Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) Benth. ??


I will go with Micromeria biflora…!!


Clinopodium nepalense (syn: Micromeria nepalensis Kitam. & Murata of Checklist of Nepal) also looks close as per GBIF specimens- onetwothree
You have to post the keys to know the exact species.
Till than it is a mixture of M.biflora and Micromeria biflora var. hispida


I am looking for keys between Clinopodium nepalense (syn: Micromeria nepalensis Kitam. & Murata of Checklist of Nepal) and Micromeria biflora.


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Micromeria biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth.: 2 very high res. images.

Location: Kalikot, West Nepal
Altitude: 1723m.
Date: 15 August 2021 

Habit : Wild



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References:

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