Salvia ballotiflora

Salvia ballotiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. ballotiflora
Binomial name
Salvia ballotiflora
Benth.[1]
Synonyms

Salvia ballotaeflora[2]

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 and Mejorana.[3]

Contents

Description

Mejorana 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 (0.59–1.5 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

S. 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. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SABA5. Retrieved 2010-11-16. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Irish, Mary (2008). Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest: Woody Plants for Arid Gardens. Timber Press. pp. 281–282. ISBN 9780881929058. http://books.google.com/books?id=AyWkIsLDca8C&dq. 
  3. ^ a b c Powell, A. Michael (1998). Trees and shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and adjacent areas. University of Texas Press. p. 347. ISBN 9780292765733. http://books.google.com/books?id=dgm6yecY5D8C&pg=PA347. 
  4. ^ "Salvia ballotiflora Benth. Shrubby blue sage, Blue Shrub Sage, Mejorana". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=saba5. 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. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/salviaballot.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-16. 

External links