4. Salvia reflexa Hornem. (lance-leaved sage, Rocky Mountain sage)
Pl. 441 e, f;
Map 1991
Plants annual,
with taproots. Stems 20–70 cm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent wth short,
curved hairs. Basal leaves absent at flowering. Stem leaves 3 to several pairs,
mostly short-petiolate, the blade 2–6 cm long, lanceolate to narrowly oblong or
elliptic, occasionally ovate, angled or tapered at the base, rounded or angled
to a bluntly pointed tip, the margins entire or sparsely and often bluntly
toothed, the upper surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent with short, curved
hairs along the main veins, the undersurface glabrous or sparsely to moderately
pubescent with short, curved hairs. Bracts usually persistent, 2–6 mm long,
lanceolate to narrowly ovate. Calyces 4–6 mm long at flowering, becoming
elongated to 6–8 mm at fruiting, moderately short-hairy along the nerves, the
upper lip entire, the lower lip shallowly 2-lobed. Corollas 6–10 mm long, the
outer surface densely short-hairy, blue to pale blue or white, the tube only
slightly longer than the calyx, the upper lip strongly hooded, entire or very
shallowly notched at the tip, the lower lip with relatively well-developed
lateral lobes and a depressed-oval central lobe, this not or only slightly
notched at the tip. Stamens and style not exserted. Nutlets 2.0–2.5 mm long,
the surface brown, smooth or minutely pebbled. 2n=20. May–October.
Widely scattered
in the state, most commonly in the western half (Ohio to Montana south to Texas
and Arizona; Canada, Mexico; introduced farther west and east). Banks of
streams and rivers, margins of ponds and lakes, marshes, bases and ledges of
bluffs, bottomland prairies, openings of bottomland forests, and openings and
edges of mesic upland forests; also pastures, old fields, edges of crop fields,
railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas.
Although this
species has smaller flowers than does S. azurea, it is still an
attractive plant for wildflower gardens and meadows.