Family |
Lamiaceae
Salvia sclarea
L.
Salvia sclarea L.
(Species Plantarum: 27, 1753)
• Life-form & habit: Biennial to short-lived perennial, aromatic, strongly pubescent with glandular and non-glandular hairs; stems erect, branched above, 60–120(–150) cm tall.
• Leaves: Basal leaves large, cordate-ovate, rugose, crenate-dentate, petiolate, up to 20 × 15 cm; upper cauline leaves smaller, ovate-lanceolate, sessile to shortly petiolate. Surfaces densely hairy, glandular, strongly aromatic.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Terminal, much-branched panicles; verticillasters 2–6-flowered, subtended by large, showy, colored bracts (pink, lilac, or whitish, strongly veined). Calyx tubular, bilabiate, with spiny teeth, glandular-hairy. Corolla 20–30 mm, lilac to violet, bilabiate; upper lip erect, lower lip spreading, trilobed. Stamens 2, with long connective forming lever mechanism.
• Fruit: Nutlets ovoid, brown, smooth, mucilaginous when wet.
• Phenology: Flowers May–July; fruits mature in summer.
• Habitat & elevation: Shady rocks, open slopes, and disturbed ground; 500–1,500 m.
• Lebanese distribution: Reported by Tohmé & Tohmé from Ras Baalbek, Aassi, Chlifa, Maqneh, Ghazzeh, Qoubaiyat, Rahbeh, Aachqout, Nahr ed-Dahab, Mayrouba, Ain-Trez, Deir el-Qamar, Jezzine, Zhalti, and Kaounine.
• Native range: Southern and central Europe, Caucasus, western and central Asia, Iran; extending into the Levant (Lebanon–Syria, Palestine).
• Common names: Clary; Sauge sclarée; كفّ الدِّب.