SALVIA VIRIDIS

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. HORMINUM

Common Names:- Red-topped sage

Homotypic Synonyms:- Horminum viride, Ormilis viridis, Salvia horminum

var. viridis, Sclarea viridis.

Meaning:- Salvia (L) Healer, the old Latin name for sage with medicinal

properties.

Viridis (L) Youthful, fresh-green.

General description:- Short to medium, hairy annual.

Stems:-

1) Up to 50 cm, erect, simple or branched, eglandular- or glandular-hairy, topped

by a coma of sterile bracts.

Leaves:-

1) Basal and cauline, with the petiole almost as long as the blade; the latter simple,

ovate-elliptical, crenulate, pubescent or strigulose, green on both sides.

Flowers:-

1) Verticillasters, 4-6-flowered, usually distant below and approximated above.

2) Pedicels, c. 5 mm, compressed, deflexed in fruit.

3) Calyx, 7-10(-12) mm, tubular, with short teeth.

4) Corolla, 14-18 mm, usually pale lilac;

a) upper lip, almost straight.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, 4, 3-angled and smooth.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, 14-18 mm, the upper lip ± straight.

2) Leaves, pubescent or strigulose.

3) Pedicels, compressed, deflexed in fruit.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and rocky coastal habitats, field margins, open dry shrubby

vegetation, dry meadows, deciduous oak scrub. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean region and SW Asia.

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton