Salvia munzii
Encyclopedia
Salvia munzii is a species of sage
known by the common name Munz's sage (named for California botanist Philip A. Munz
). It is native to northern Baja California
, Mexico
, and it can be found in a few locations just north of the border in San Diego County, California
. It is a member of the coastal sage scrub
and chaparral
plant communities.
which may exceed 2 meters in height, its branches coated in hairs. The rough-textured leaves are up to 5 centimeters long, the undersides densely hairy. The erect inflorescence
s are made up of many interrupted clusters of flowers, each cluster subtended by a pair of lance-shaped, leaflike bract
s. The flower has a tubular blue corolla up to 1.5 centimeters long.
Salvia
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 700-900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of several genera commonly referred to as sage. When used without modifiers, sage generally refers to Salvia officinalis ; however, it is...
known by the common name Munz's sage (named for California botanist Philip A. Munz
Philip A. Munz
Philip A. Munz, botanist, taxonomist and educator , of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, was Professor of Botany at Pomona College, serving as Dean for three years....
). It is native to northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and it can be found in a few locations just north of the border in San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. It is a member of the coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
plant communities.
Description
Salvia munzii is a bushy shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
which may exceed 2 meters in height, its branches coated in hairs. The rough-textured leaves are up to 5 centimeters long, the undersides densely hairy. The erect inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are made up of many interrupted clusters of flowers, each cluster subtended by a pair of lance-shaped, leaflike bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s. The flower has a tubular blue corolla up to 1.5 centimeters long.
See also
- California chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia chaparral and woodlandsThe California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of lower northern, central, and southern California and northwestern Baja California , located on the west coast of North America...
- California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionThe California coastal sage and chaparral, a sub-ecoregion of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, is found in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California in Mexico.-Location:...