Salvia melaleuca

Salvia melaleuca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. melaleuca
Binomial name
Salvia melaleuca
Epling
Subspecies
  • S. melaleuca subsp. melaleuca
  • S. melaleuca subsp. totensis J.R.I. Wood & Harley

Salvia melaleuca is a perennial undershrub that is endemic to the north central region of the Eastern Cordillera in Colombia. It is a close relative of S. rubescens, with a villous and much larger corolla than that species. Salvia melaleuca grows approximately .5 to 2.5 m (1.6 to 8.2 ft) high, has a red corolla that is 3.5 to 4.5 cm (1.4 to 1.8 in) long, with the upper lip typically 9 mm (0.35 in) long but sometimes up to 15 mm (0.59 in).

Subspecies

It is divided into two subspecies: S. melaleuca subsp. melaleuca and S. melaleuca subsp. totensis. Subsp. melaleuca has leaves that are smooth on the upper surface, and racemes with 6-10 verticillasters that are up to 25 cm long. Subsp. totensis has leaves that are hairy on the upper surface, with racemes that typically have 3-5 verticillasters, growing to 10 cm long.[1]

Notes

  1. Wood, J. R. I.; Harley, R. M. (1989). "The Genus Salvia (Labiatae) in Colombia". Kew Bulletin. Springer. 44 (2): 232–236. JSTOR 4110799.


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