Nepeta teydea var. teydea (Teide catmint)

CC image by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

This plant is endemic to the high altitude area of Tenerife.

Rather like Scrophularia glabrata (although in a different family, the Lamiaceae or mints), this plant has opposite leaves which are markedly toothed. However, the leaves of Nepeta teydea var. teydea are softly hairy (S. glabrata's are smooth). This gives them a greyish appearance which may be an adaptation to reflect UV radiation or reduce transpiration.

The stems branch near their base, so you may see a clump of tall upright flowering stems (albeit not as elegant as in their purple summer flowering period).

The leaves of this plant are aromatic (like many of the mint family) - they contain chemicals which probably act as an adaptation against herbivores. On Tenerife these would originally have been insects alone. Recently arrived mammalian herbivores like the mouflons have been shown to prefer to eat other plants over this species.

CC image by Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich