Salvia reflexa Hornem.

Lance-Leaved Sage

© DETenaglia

Family - Lamiaceae

Stems - To +50cm tall, herbaceous, branched, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, 4-angled.

© DETenaglia

Leaves - Opposite, petiolate, linear-oblong, coarsely toothed, to +6cm long, -2cm wide, glabrous or sparsely pubescent below, fragrant.

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - Terminal spikes of whorled flowers (verticillasters). Flowers usually two at a node.

© DETenaglia

Flowers - Corolla light blue, less than 1cm long, tubular, bilabiate, pubescent externally. Lower lip larger than upper lip, to 4mm long. Upper lip galeate. Stamens 2, hidden by upper lip. Calyx bilabiate, with 12-13 ridges (nerves), to 6mm long.

© DETenaglia

	Fruiting calyx.
© DETenaglia

Flowering - June - October.

Habitat - Pastures, prairies, disturbed sites, waste ground, roadsides, railroads.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This small species can be found scattered throughout Missouri. The plant is easy to identify because of its small, pale blue flowers, and heavily ribbed calices.
S. reflexa is frequently found in cow and horse pastures with dry, rocky, loamy soil.

Photographs taken at Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, KS., 9-19-06