NOTES ON THE GENUS NEPETA L. (LAMIACEAE, NEPETOIDEAE)

The species belonging to Nepeta sect. Psilonepeta Benth. recognized by K.H. Rechinger in Flora Iranica are revised. Nepeta bazoftica Jamzad is described as a new species in this section. It is characterized by a broad ovate, petiolate leaf, deeply cordate at base, with shallowly crenate-dentate margins; a lax pedunculate cyme; calyx throat with a ring of hairs inside; corolla long exserted from the calyx. The new species is closely related to N. archibaldii and belongs to a natural group of species partly recognized by Bentham in sect. Psilonepeta, characterized by a straight to slightly curved calyx, throat straight, with an internal ring of hairs; corolla clearly exserted from calyx, with a deflexed lower lip. Nepeta iranshahrii previously recognized in sect. Capituliferae and N. pinetorum of sect. Schizocalyx share the same floral characteristics and are considered in the same group. Furthermore, N. scrophularioides Rech. f. with an oblique calyx throat, without a hairy ring inside is excluded from sect. Psilonepeta and is considered as a synonym of N. fissa C. A. Mey.