Lovely Purple Wildflower
by Debra Forand
Title
Lovely Purple Wildflower
Artist
Debra Forand
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
Wildflowers growing along the side of the road in Florida.
Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata)Lyreleaf sage is a strictly upright, hairy perennial, 1-2 ft. tall with a rosette of leaves at the base. The leaves are deeply 3-lobed, with a few simple leaves higher up on the stem. Large basal leaves are purple-tinged in the winter. This species has the typical square stem and 2-lipped blossom of the mints. Its pale-blue to violet, tubular flowers are arranged in whorls around the stem forming an interrupted, terminal spike. Each blossom is about 1 inch long. The 2-lobed lower lip is much longer than the upper, which has 3 lobes, the middle one forming a sort of hood. The sepals are purplish-brown.
Lyreleaf sage makes a great evergreen ground cover, with somewhat ajuga-like foliage and showy blue flowers in spring.
Uploaded
April 11th, 2013
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