Salvia bracteata
Salvia bracteata
Çoban şalbası
Perennial herb, somewhat suffruticose at base. Stems several, 20-50 cm, often purplish, ascending or erect; densely glandular pilose-villous, sometimes with long eglandular-villous hairs. Leaves pinnatisect, with an ovate to oblong terminal segment 2.5-7 x 1.5-3.5 cm and 1-2-pairs of smaller lateral segments, ± densely eglandular-pilose, serrulate; petiole 1-5 cm, sparsely ciliate. Inflorescence paniculate. Verticillasters 5-10-flowered, distant, ± enclosed by submembranous floral leaves, c. 15-30 x 9-17 mm. Bracts many, purplish; bracteoles present. Pedicels 1-5 mm. Calyx tubular-infundibular, 12-16 mm, scarcely expanding in fruit, glandular-villous. Corolla pink to purplish, 20-30 mm; tube 14-20 mm, irregularly annulate; upper lip straight. Stamens A. Nutlets ± spherical, c. 3.5 x 3 mm. Fl. 5-7. Igneous and calcareous slopes, with Quercus brantii, fallow fields, edge of vineyards, roadsides, waste places, 50-2000 m.
Palestine, Syrian Desert, N. Iraq, N.W. & W. Iran. Ir-Tur, element? Characterised by the large coloured floral leaves, numerous bracts and pink to purple corollas.
