Salvia lyrata L.

Lyre Leaf Sage

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Lyre Leaf Sage is a native herbaceous perennial in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Lyre Leaf Sage occurs in lawns, on roadsides, in open woods, in prairies, and on rock outcrops. It is a perennial from a tap root. The leaves form a basal rosette. The leaves are petiolate, elliptic to obovate in outline, pubescent, with lobed or dissected margins. The larger veins of the leaf are sometimes outlined with dark reddish-purple, and plants growing in full sun or in dry condition may have leaves that are entirely purplish in color. The flowers are produced in a 1-2-foot-tall thyrse (an inflorescence in which the central axis is indeterminate and the lateral branches are determinate cymes). The flowering stem is square, pubescent, and the flowers appear to be in whorls. There are often 1-2 pairs of reduced sessile leaves on the scape. The calyx has 3 teeth on the upper lip and 2 teeth on the lower lip. The corolla is 2-lipped and pale to deep blue in color. The lower lip is much longer than the upper and 2-lobed. The fruit is a dark brown, warty mericarp. Lyre Leaf Sage was used as a medicinal plant by Native Americans. It is easily grown from seed, and can be naturalized in meadows and open woodlands. Several cultivars are available including 'Burgundy Bliss' and 'Purple Knockout' with attractive foliage.—A. Diamond

**

Native FAC- (NWPL)

**