Acinos arvensis (Lam.) Dandy

Hairy (sometimes densely so) annual or short-lived perennial. Stems ascending to c. 20 cm, often purplish. Lvs petiolate or subsessile. Lamina 7–15 × 3–5 mm, elliptic or rhombic-ovate, entire or distantly serrulate, becoming almost glabrous below; base narrow-cuneate; apex acute or subacute. Fls shortly pedicellate, forming a loose terminal infl. of a few whorls. Calyx c. 5 mm long; tube constricted near the middle, gibbous below; nerves white-pilose; teeth subulate, 1–1.5 mm long, ciliate, much < tube. Corolla 7–9 mm long to apex of upper lip, densely puberulent outside, mauve or violet with white patch on lower lip; upper lip curving forward, emarginate; lower lip c. 1.5 mm long, very broad. Nutlets 1.2–1.5 mm long, obscurely angled.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.