Salvia palaestina
Encyclopedia
Salvia palaestina is a herbaceous perennial native to a wide area including what was historically known as Palestine
, (which now includes Israel
, Syria
, and the West Bank
) and is also native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Sinai peninsula and northeastern Egypt. It was named and described by George Bentham
in 1835, with the specific epithet (palaestina) referring to its geographical distribution "in Palæstinæ montibus inter Gaza et Jerusalem", or the mountains between Gaza and Jerusalem.
S. palaestina grows in a wide variety of habitats, between 1000 to 4000 ft (304.8 to 1,219.2 m) elevation. It was introduced into horticulture in the 1990s. The plant grows 1 to 2 ft (0.3048 to 0.6096 m) tall, with an upright habit and many square stems growing from basal roots. The mid-green rugose leaves vary in shape and size, with light hairs on both sides, and glands that release a scent when rubbed or crushed. The 12 in (30.5 cm) inflorescences grow candelabra-like at the top of the stems, with 4-6 flowers per whorl. The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) flowers are straight and tubular, ranging in color from white to pale lilac.
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, (which now includes Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
) and is also native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Sinai peninsula and northeastern Egypt. It was named and described by George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
in 1835, with the specific epithet (palaestina) referring to its geographical distribution "in Palæstinæ montibus inter Gaza et Jerusalem", or the mountains between Gaza and Jerusalem.
S. palaestina grows in a wide variety of habitats, between 1000 to 4000 ft (304.8 to 1,219.2 m) elevation. It was introduced into horticulture in the 1990s. The plant grows 1 to 2 ft (0.3048 to 0.6096 m) tall, with an upright habit and many square stems growing from basal roots. The mid-green rugose leaves vary in shape and size, with light hairs on both sides, and glands that release a scent when rubbed or crushed. The 12 in (30.5 cm) inflorescences grow candelabra-like at the top of the stems, with 4-6 flowers per whorl. The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) flowers are straight and tubular, ranging in color from white to pale lilac.