Salvia granitica

Salvia granitica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species:
S. granitica
Binomial name
Salvia granitica

Salvia granitica is a species of sage commonly called the granite sage. It is endemic to South Africa′s, Western Cape province, where it grows on stony slopes in two far-removed locations – in the north, the Olifants River Mountains in the Koue Bokkeveld and, in the south, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley between Hermanus and Caledon. It has no apparent affinity to any other Cape sage.[1][2]

Description

Salvia granitica is a stoloniferous perennial with a woody rootstock. Stems are erect to ascending, up to 60 cm (24 in) tall, little branched, and four-angled; they are nearly hairless below, with a few spreading white hairs, and more finely hairy above with occasional glandular hairs.[1][2]

Leaves are simple, linear to linear-oblanceolate, 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long, usually entire and mostly glabrous above, with long white non-glandular hairs and oil glands beneath; they are sessile or taper into a short petiole.[1]

The inflorescence is usually unbranched, bearing 5–9 two-flowered verticils, spaced below and more closely set above. Floral leaves are small and ovate-acuminate, with minute bracts. Flowers are borne on erect to spreading pedicels up to 6 mm (0.24 in) long.[1]

The calyx is narrow and tubular to campanulate, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long, nine-veined and hairy, with a truncate upper lip and two long teeth on the lower lip.[1]

The corolla is a light mauve-pink, about 2 cm (0.8 in) long, with a falcate hood and a slightly exserted tube. Staminal connectives are elongate, with fertile lower anthers.[1]

Salvia granitica flowers in November and December.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hedge, IC (1974). "A revision of Salvia in Africa including Madagascar and the Canary Islands". Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 33 (1). Her Majesty′s Stationery Office: 57.
  2. ^ a b c Manning J, Goldblatt P (2012). "Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape flora". Strelitzia. 29. SANBI: 603. ISBN 9781919976747.
  • SANBI Biodiversity Advisor
  • Data related to Salvia granitica at Wikispecies