A NEW SPECIES OF NEPETA FROM TAKHT-E-SULAIMAN, PAKISTAN

Nepeta is the largest genus in the family Lamiaceae in the flora of Pakistan, represented by 49 species, including 9 endemics. The genus is mainly distributed in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, northern and western Punjab. A new species of Nepeta from section Spicatae, Nepeta sulaimanica is described and illustrated from Takht-e-Sulaiman in Sulaiman Mountain Range, Pakistan. The new species is characterized by spike-like inflorescence, 25 mm long blue corolla, with tube long exerted from the calyx and middle lobe of the lower lip dropping, bilobed, with entire lobules; nutlet surface smooth. Nepeta sulaimanica is compared with the closely related species, N. laevigata, which has a different indumentum, larger leaf size, longer petiole, and shorter corolla.