Nomenclature

Species name:

Micromeria microphylla   (D' Urv.) Benth.

Author(s):

Carl von Linné
   Sweden, 1707-1778

General names:

Maltese Savory
Small Leaved Micromeria

Maltese name:

Xpakkapjetra
Xpakkapietra
Spakkapjetra
Xkattapjetra
Sghatrija

Plant Family:

Lamiaceae / Labiatae   (Mint Family)

Name Derivation:

Micromeria = Micro (small) and meris (a part), thus having small parts mainly referring to the tiny flowers and leaves. (Greek);
microphylla = Small-leaved (Greek).

Synonyms:

Satureja microphylla, Micromeria rodriguezii

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Habitat:

Garigue, valley sides, rocky wasteground

Sources in Malta:

A rather common plant found throughout the Maltese islands such as at Wied Incita, Wied Qirda, Wied Babu, Wied Znuber, Selmun, Wardija, Mellieha, Dingli, Comino and Ta' Cenc (Gozo) amongst many other sites.

Plant Height:

8-25cm

Flowering Time:

All year round mostly during Nov to Aug.

A plant described as a dwarf shrub since its low-growing habit and the numerous woody branches it forms, mostly at the basal part. The stems are thin, rigid, reddish-brown and with fine hair (pubescent). The plants often have a procumbent to ascending growth form or sometimes erect, reaching a hight of around 25cm.

The plant form tiny leaves, which are either sessile or have a very short petiole (=subsessile). Several leaves are also found growing close to each other (as tufts) from short outgrowing branches along the main stem. The leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, entire and measure 3-5mm long and 2-3mm wide.

Inflorescences are few-flowered (1-6) verticillasters growing from leaf axils. Like the leaves, the calyx and the corolla are also tiny structures, hence the Genus name Micromeria ('small-parts'). The calyx is a tubular structure, more or less linear with 5 thin, pointed teeth. The calyx is about 3mm long, hairy (including its teeth) and sometimes have a reddish-brown colour.

The corolla is a 2-lipped, tubular structure that is about 6-7mm long and can have a white, lilac or a pale blue colour. The upper lip has two erect lobes (bifid) and is smaller from the lower lip. The latter is flattened and has 3 lobes; the 2 lateral ones are oblong with a rounded tip and pointing down, while the central lobe has a wider circular structure. Some specimen have an undecorated corolla with a whitish colour, while on the other hand, other specimen have lilac corollas with a purplish border and 5 purple streaks around the mouth.

The plant possesses 4 stamens arranged in 2 parallel pairs over each other, one pair slightly shorter from the other. The anthers have a vivid purple-violet colour that are quite conspicuous against the whitish or lilac upper lip of the corolla. The anther pairs are often seen arranged as an 'X'-shaped structure. The stamens are shorter from the upper lip, hence they are not protruding out. The female part is an ovary, hidden at the base of the calyx, with a white style and a 2-parted stigma.

The fruit are 4 tiny nutlets residing inside the base of the calyx. The fruit are impossible to observe inside the enclosed calyx. Apparently, the seeds fall off through the calyx opening without any special dispesral mechanism.

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