HELP IDENTIFY THIS LAMIACEAE MEMBER FROM SRINAGAR

[taffa...@gmail.com]

Dear Members,

Please help identify this highly aromatic plant of Lamiaceae family growing in Rawathpora Srinagar.

Habitat : Wild

Stem about 1.5 meters high falls down under its own weight . Flowers white about 10 mm long and 2-3 mm broad, Calyx and Corolla densely hairy . The lower limb of corolla has 8 teeth and 2mm long hairs at the  the throat. Corolla tube is 8-9mm long.The inner part of the lower lobe has pinkish violet spots(See Photo). Anthers 4,violet and with two distinct lobes (See photo), Style 7-9mm long and bifid.

All photos under CC Licence (Attribution only needed)

Regards

Taffazull

[Jaydip Gadhiya]

Sir, Please check Nepeta sp., Lamiaceae.
https://efloraofindia.com/category/species/a-l-d0/l/lamiaceae/nepeta/

Thanks & Regards
Jaydip Gadhiya 🌿

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[taffa...@gmail.com]

Dear Jaydip Ji,

Thanks for the suggestion

At first sight looks like N.cataria

Would request confirmation from experts

Regards

[Gurcharan Singh]

Yes it is Nepeta cataria, very common in Srinagar.

[taffa...@gmail.com]

Dear Gurcharan ji,

Thanks for confirmation

Regards

Taffazull

[taffa...@gmail.com]

A villager informs me that its local Kashmiri name is "Brari Ghas "  literally meaning "cats grass" (Very similar to the European names) and he also told me  

that in olden days its crushed leaves  were  given to children as a cure for roundworm (Ascaris)  infestation.

[taffa...@gmail.com]

To give due credit am posting photo of a villager Mr.Anwar Ahmed from a remote village (Boniyon) of South Kashmir who has given me information about local names and  uses  of some plants posted on this site. He identified Veronica stewarti as Zaw Ghas   literally louse herb because the tiny flowers look like lice , Chenopodium album as kuna , Nepeta cataria as Brari Ghas  literally cat's grass and a Convulvulus Sp as Thaer.  He told me that in olden days  village folk  used roots of Rubia wallichiana  as an abortifacient , seeds of Sisymbrium loeselii  for treating measles and crushed leaves of Nepeta cataria  for treating roundworm infestation in children.

[Gurcharan Singh]

Thanks Taffazul ji for very useful information.

[taffa...@gmail.com]

Gurcharan Ji has in his list of Kashmiri names of plants mentioned Gandh Soi  literally meaning "fragrant nettle" as one of the Kashmiri names of catnip. It could refer to the nettle like aromatic leaves of the plant.

Regards

Taffazull

[Gurcharan Singh]

Gand in Kashmiri I thought is bad smell not fragrance Taffazul ji, fragrance is khushbu.

[taffa...@gmail.com]

Sir I think in old Kashmiri gandh may have meant fragrant. In Kashmir early spring when fragrance of flowers fills the air is called "gandh bahar" . Its roots may be same as in the very fragrant flower Rajnigandha  (Tuberose)perhaps from Sanskrit. This is my guess but in either case it perhaps refers to the aroma of its leaves. Whether it is perceived as good or bad might be something subjective. Khushbu is I think not a typical Kashmiri word but perhaps a recent introduction from Urdu.

Regards