| Salvia palaestina | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Salvia |
| Species: | S. palaestina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Salvia palaestina | |
Salvia palaestina is a herbaceous perennial native to a wide area including Palestine, and is also native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Sinai peninsula and northeastern Egypt.[1][2] It was named and described by George Bentham in 1835, with the specific epithet (palaestina) referring to its geographical distribution "in Palæstinæ montibus inter Gaza et Jerusalem", or the mountains between Gaza and Jerusalem.[3][4]
S. palaestina grows in a wide variety of habitats, between 1,000 to 4,000 ft (300 to 1,220 m) elevation. It was introduced into horticulture in the 1990s.[2] The plant grows 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) tall, with an upright habit and many square stems growing from basal roots. The mid-green rugose leaves vary in shape and size, with light hairs on both sides, and glands that release a scent when rubbed or crushed. The 12 in (30 cm) inflorescences grow candelabrum-like at the top of the stems, with 4–6 flowers per whorl. The .5 in (1.3 cm) flowers are straight and tubular, ranging in color from white to pale lilac.[2]
- ^ Boulos, Loutfy (2002). Flora of Egypt: Verbenaceae-Compositae. Al Hadara Pub. ISBN 9789775429254. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ a b c Clebsch, Betsy; Barner, Carol D. (2003). The New Book of Salvias. Timber Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-88192-560-9.
- ^ "Salvia Palaestina". The International Plant Names Index. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ Bentham, George (1832–1836). Labiatarum Genera et Species: or, a description of the genera and species of plants of the order labiatae. Piccadilly: James Ridgway & Sons. p. 561. Retrieved 1 August 2010.