Family |
Lamiaceae
Lavandula stoechas
L.
Lavandula stoechas L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 573 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, p. 114, Pl. LI, 9; 1983)
Description
Life-form & habit: Much-branched subshrub with erect shoots, 20–50 cm tall in Mouterde's regional account.
Leaves: Entire, linear to linear-oblong and blunt-tipped, with margins rolled downwards.
Inflorescence & flowers: Dense, blunt, ovate-oblong spikes on short stalks. Lower bracts greyish; the enlarged sterile bracts form a conspicuous terminal tuft, usually violet-purple, occasionally white or pink. Calyx oval and grey-hairy; corolla violet, its tube extending beyond the calyx.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering recorded through most of the year.
Habitat & elevation: Non-calcareous ground, especially woodland and scrub in areas with a Mediterranean climate.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saida–Damour, Nahr Aouali, Beirut, Nahr Beirut, Dekouane, Jamhour, Broummana, below Beit Meri, Harissa, Ain Rihaniyeh, Deir el Qamar, Choueifat, Abey, Ghazir, above Jounieh, Antoura, Bikfaya, Ain Zehalta, Rachaya, Qleyya, Sannine and Bekish.
Syrian distribution: Ain Haramiyeh, Qastal Maaf, Bassit, Kessab and Jabal Aqra.
Native range: Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Introduced into: Canary Is., New Zealand South, Tasmania.