Salvia aurita (African Blue Sage)

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

African Blue Sage

Description

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Genus Salvia

Herbs, subshrubs , or shrubs . Leaves simple or pinnately compound . Verticillasters 2- to many flowered, in racemes , panicles, or spikes, rarely solitary, axillary ; bracteoles minute. Calyx tubular to campanulate , hairy or glabrous on throat inside, 2-lipped; upper lip entire, 2-toothed, or 3-mucronate; lower lip 2-toothed. Corolla 2-lipped; tube straight, horizontal, curved upward or adaxially dilated , with or without hairy annulus inside; upper lip folded, straight or falcate , apex entire or emarginate ; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed; middle lobe widest, margin entire, apex emarginate, fringed , or 2-lobulate; lateral lobes oblong or circular, spreading or reflexed . Stamens 2; filaments short, horizontal or erect ; connectives prolonged, linear , T-shaped; upper arms with fertile elliptic or linear anther cells ; lower arms robust or slender, with fertile or sterile anther cells, separated or connected to each other; staminodes 2, small or absent. Style 2-cleft, lobes subulate , linear or circular, equal, anterior lobe larger or posterior lobe indistinct. Disc slightly swollen in front or ringlike. Nutlets triquetrous , ovoid or oblong, glabrous, smooth .

About 900(-1100) species: tropical and temperate zones of the Old and New World, 84 species in China.

There are many taxonomic problems in the flora area, especially in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces ; collation with the situation in the Himalaya is much needed.[1]

Physical Description

Habit: Compact , sturdy plant.

Flowers: Bloom Period: June, July, August. • Flower Color: medium blue

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 4-6' tall.

Landscaping

Care: Hardy and trouble-free. Heat and drought tolerant . Pinch lightly in spring to keep plant bushy. Remove spent flowers to prolong blooming season .

Biology

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Growth

Culture: Space 18-24" apart.

Soil: Prefers organic , well-drained soil. • Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.8

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full sun .

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota () - Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Plantae () - Haeckel, 1866 - Plants
  - Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae () - Cavalier-Smith, 1981
    - Phylum: Tracheophyta () - Sinnott, 1935 ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - Vascular Plants
      - Subphylum: Euphyllophytina () - (Auct.) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
        Infraphylum: Angiospermae () - Auct.
        Class: Spermatopsida () - Brongniart, 1843
        Subclass: Asteridae () - Takhtajan, 1967
        Superorder: Lamianae () - Takhtajan, 1967
        Order: Lamiales () - Bromhead, 1838
        Family: Labiatae () - A.L. de Jussieu, 1789, nom. cons., nom. alt.
        Subfamily: Nepetoideae ()
        Tribe: Mentheae ()
        Subtribe: Salviinae ()
        Genus: Salvia () - C. Linnaeus, 1753 - Sage
        Specific epithet: aurita - Thunb.
        Botanical name: - Salvia aurita Thunb.