Salvia euphratica
Salvia euphratica
Fırat şalbası
Tuft-forming aromatic suffruticose herb. Stems ascending erect, 20-50 cm, varying greatly in indumentum, hairs usually present below, present or absent above. Leaves simple, ovate-oblong to elliptic, 2.5-8 x 1.5-4 cm, rarely with a pair of small lateral basal lobes, cordate or rounded, lanate to glabrous with sessile glands, rugose, crenulate; petiole 0.5-3 cm. Verticillasters 4-10-flowered, distant to approximating. Bracts of upper verticillasters broadly ovate, 15-30 x 15-25 mm, green to purplish, lowermost leaf-like. Pedicels 3-10 mm, erecto-patent, Calyx green to purplish, glabrous, pubescent or villous, glandular or not; broadly campanulate, c. 20 mm, broadening and expanding to 30 mm in fruit, upper lip subentire. Corolla pale pink to violet-blue, c. 35 mm; tube 20-25 mm, slightly curved and widening towards throat, ± annulate; upper lip ±straight. Stamens A. Nutlets rounded trigonous, c. 5 x 4 mm. Fl. 4-5. Rocky limestone slopes and screes, marly banks, river shingle, 850-1800 m.
1. Calyx and inflorescence axis ± glabrous and glaucous ............................................var.leiocalycina
1. Calyx and inflorescence axis with a ± dense indumentum ......................................var. euphratica
The species is endemic and Irano-Turanian.
