Small prostrate shrub with stems and leaves densely covered with branched hairs. Leaves cordate, 15 mm long and wide, margins slightly rolled under, veins conspicuous. Flower spikes shortly cylindrical, mostly 16 mm long, 14 mm wide; bracts roundish, purple, glabrous; calyx unequally 2-lipped, neither lip lobed. Corolla 11 mm long, saccate, pink; stamens strongly protruding.

Crete

 

O. calcaratum is similar but has thicker leaves and simple hairs. O. 'Barbara Tingey' is said to be a hybrid between this species and O. dictamnus.

Source: Lumley, P. (2002). Origanum. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.