Salvia ballotiflora

Salvia ballotiflora is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to Texas in the United States as well as northeastern and central Mexico.[2] Common names include shrubby blue sage[1] and mejorana.[3]

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

Salvia ballotaeflora[2]

Description

Shrubby blue sage is a shrub, growing to a height of 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft) with a spread half of that. The ovate leaves are 1.5–3.8 cm (0.59–1.50 in) long and have serrated or wavy margins.[2] Trichomes on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves[4] give them a rough texture. Its profuse light blue to purple flowers are less than 1.3 cm (0.51 in) in length and are produced from April to October.[2]

Habitat and range

Salvia ballotiflora is found in the Edwards Plateau and Tamaulipan mezquital[5] of southern and western Texas. Its range in Mexico includes the states of Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas. It prefers alkaline soils,[2] such as those of limestone canyons.[3]

Uses

The leaves of shrubby blue sage are used for flavoring foods.[3] It is cultivated as an ornamental for its colorful blooms.[2]

Notes
  1. "Salvia ballotiflora Benth. shrubby blue sage". The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  2. Irish, Mary (2008). Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest: Woody Plants for Arid Gardens. Timber Press. pp. 281–282. ISBN 978-0-88192-905-8.
  3. Powell, A. Michael (1998). Trees and shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and adjacent areas. University of Texas Press. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-292-76573-3.
  4. "Salvia ballotiflora Benth. Shrubby blue sage, Blue Shrub Sage, Mejorana". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  5. "Mejorana, Medjorana, Blue Sage, Shrubby Blue Salvia, Engorda-cabra, Crespa Salvia ballotiflora". Benny Simpson's Texas Native Shrubs. Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2010-11-16.


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