Salvia leucantha
| Salvia leucantha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Salvia |
| Species: | S. leucantha |
| Binomial name | |
| Salvia leucantha Cav. | |
Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to subtropical and tropical conifer forests in central and eastern Mexico. The flowers are usually white, emerging from coloured bracts. It is not frost hardy, but is often grown in warmer latitudes for its prominent arching velvety blue or purple inflorescences.[1]
It grows up to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) high and 2 m (6.6 ft) wide, with numerous erect stems, often arching at their tips, and with long inflorescences. The linear-lanceolate leaves are a soft mid-green, with whitish, hairy undersides.[1]
A recent analysis of the essential oil of S. leucantha found it to be rich in the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons β-caryophyllene, α-guaiene, cis-muurola-3,5-diene, germacrene Dm, and bicyclogermacrene, along with trace amounts of other compounds. This study contradicted earlier ones, which showed significantly different results and compounds, possibly "due to an error in the identification of plant material analyzed by the earlier auditors."[2]
This plant has ornamental value in the garden, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Clebsch, Betsy; Barner, Carol D. (2003). The New Book of Salvias. Timber Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-88192-560-9.
- ↑ Negi, Anuradha; Javed, Mohammad S; Melkani, Anand B; Dev, Vasu; Beauchamp, Philip S (Sep–Oct 2007). "Steam Volatile Terpenoids from Salvia leucantha". Journal of Essential Oil Research 19 (5): 463–465. doi:10.1080/10412905.2007.9699953. ISSN 1041-2905.
- ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Salvia leucantha". Retrieved 3 July 2013.