Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 579 (1753).

Derivation: Latin name of some species of the genus; Greek laimos, the throat; alluding to the shape of the flowers.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Annuals with quadrangular branches, with simple hairs often with a somewhat broadened base; leaves petiolate, opposite, crenate, serrate to lobed.

Inflorescence a thyrse usually with a distinct peduncle, with sessile cymose part-inflorescences usually forming dense clusters around the nodes and with elongated internodes between them at least in the lower parts, with the bracts more or less leaf-like, longer than and often enclosing the part-inflorescence which they subtend; sepals more or less equally connate, regular, with simple hairs at least on the outside; corolla 2-lipped, with posterior lip oblanceolate, hooded, with anterior lip oblong-spathulate with 2 short and broad lateral lobes and a broader 2-lobed central one; stamens 4 fertile, inserted in the throat of the corolla tube; anthers with 2 cells fertile and strongly diverging so that they are above one another in a vertical line, enclosed in hood of posterior lip; ovary deeply 4-lobed, with each locule with 1 basal ovule, with a gynobasic style and a terminal 2-fid stigma.

Fruit usually with 4 mericarps each obovoid-obpyramidal with 3 keels, with an attachment scar transversely oblong, basal.

Distribution:  About 50 species mainly from Eurasia but also northern Africa; 2 species naturalised in Australia.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Bracts subtending the part-inflorescences sessile and clasping; calyx densely hairy	L. amplexicaule 1.
1. Bracts subtending the part-inflorescences petiolate or with a cuneate base; calyx sparsely hairy	L. purpureum 2.

Author: Not yet available