Salvia herbanica

Salvia herbanica
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. herbanica
Binomial name
Salvia herbanica
A. Santos & M. Fernández

Salvia herbanica is a Critically Endangered perennial plant that is endemic to the Canary Islands, growing in the mountains of southern-central Fuerteventura, at 250 to 400 m (820 to 1,310 ft) elevation. In 2004 there were only 212 known plants in the wild, in ten locations, with fewer than 50 plants in each location. Habitat for the plant continues to shrink due to predation by herbivores (domesticated goats and sheep and wild rabbits and squirrels) . Less than 50 of the plants are safe from predation, with the rest of the plants in poor health.[1]

Salvia herbanica is a densely branched shrub with dark green fascicled leaves that are up to 20 mm (0.79 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The flowers grow on terminal spikes with 6-8 whorls, with a dark purple calyx holding the corolla which is violet with white spots.[2]

Notes

  1. "IUCN Redlist". IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. Scholz, S.; Santos Guerra, A. "Salvia herbanica A. Santos & M. Fernández". Atlas y Libro Rojo de la Flora Vascular Amenazada de España. Retrieved 4 July 2012.