Salvia verbenaca

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Ordo: Lamiales
Familia: Lamiaceae
Subfamilia: Nepetoideae
Tribus: Mentheae
Genus: Salvia
Species: Salvia verbenaca
Varieties: S. verbenaca var. oblongifolia

Name

Salvia verbenaca L.

Reference

Species Plantarum 1:25. 1753

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Salvia verbenaca, also known as Wild Clary or Wild Sage, is a tall perennial herb with hairy stems and branches that erectly sprawl out. Its leaves are basal and toothed that vary from 3 to 10 centimeters long. It has soft purple to violet flowers in mid summer. It can be found growing wild in meadows in the eastern half of the United States.

It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The flowers are bisexual and are pollinated by bees. Some are also cleistogamous and pollinate themselves. The plant is noted for attracting wildlife. It prefers neutral and alkaline soils and needs full sun.

This aromatic sage is used as a flavoring in foods and to make tea. The flowers can be added to salads.

Resources

* http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Salvia+verbenaca
* http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Salvia~verbenaca
* http://www.floralimages.co.uk/psalviverbe.htm
* http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SAVE12