Authors: L.
A very variable clump to mat-forming perennial with stems 10-45cm in length.
Leaves broadly ovate to reniform, 5-50mm or more long, crenate to serrate, more or less glabrous to softly hairy. Flowers in clusters of one to five from the upper leaf axils, 2.2-4cm in length, purplish pink to white, summer. Southern Europe to Turkey, usually in the mountains in various habitats. In cultivation mainly represented by robust, clump-forming hairy plants 30-40cm or more in height which are too coarse and large for rock gardens. There are, however, several subspecies, the smaller ones described below being worth seeking out for the rock garden, raised bed or scree; L.g. subsp. pictum has stems not more than 10cm long and rounded to kidney-shaped, more or less hairless leaves up to 2cm wide. Subsp. pulchrum is closely mat-forming with white hairy leaves and white, purple-veined and blotched flowers. Subsp. reniforme has a somewhat sprawling habit of growth but is generally smaller than typical garganicum, L, corsicum from the mountain rocks and screes of Corsica is similar to L. garganicum but smaller in stature, flower and leaf and generally neater. Some botanists consider it to be yet another subspecies oi garganicum, [Pl.238].
