Leucophyllum
Encyclopedia
Leucophyllum is a genus of evergreen
shrub
s in the figwort
family, Scrophulariaceae
, native to the southwestern United States
and Mexico
. It is sometimes placed in the family Myoporaceae
. The dozen-odd species are often called "sages", although they have no relationship to the genus Salvia
.
The solitary axillary flowers are bell- or funnel-shaped, with five lobes and two lips, and colors ranging from white to magenta to purple. The generic name is derived from the Greek
words λευκός (leukos), meaning "white," and φυλλον (phyllos), meaning "leaf
," referring to the trichome-covered foliage.
These shrubs are found in sand
y soil
s and have a high salt tolerance
. They have become popular for edge and area plantings in warmer areas and in xeriscaping
; they require minimal water, are easily shaped into hedge
s, and bloom over their entire surface. Cultivar
s of L. frutescens
, L. candidum,
L. laevigatum, L. langmaniae, L. pruinosum, L. revolutum, and L. zygophyllum have been developed.
Leucophyllum shrubs are legendary for their ability to "forecast" rain, usually blooming several days prior to a rainstorm, apparently in response to humidity. They are sometimes called "barometer
bush" for this reason. It is believed to be a survival trait in the plants' semi-desert habitats.
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
shrub
Shrub
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...
s in the figwort
Scrophularia
The genus Scrophularia of the family Scrophulariaceae comprises about 200 species of herbaceous flowering plants commonly known as figworts. Species of Scrophularia all share square stems, opposite leaves and open two-lipped flowers forming clusters at the end of their stems...
family, Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family, are a family of flowering plants. The plants are annual or perennial herbs with flowers with bilateral or rarely radial symmetry. Members of the Scrophulariaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority found in temperate areas, including...
, native to the southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and 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...
. It is sometimes placed in the family Myoporaceae
Myoporaceae
Myoporaceae is a family of plants, found mostly in Australia, which includes the following genera:* Diocirea* Eremophila, also known as Emu Bush* Myoporum, also known as Boobiala...
. The dozen-odd species are often called "sages", although they have no relationship to the genus Salvia
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...
.
The solitary axillary flowers are bell- or funnel-shaped, with five lobes and two lips, and colors ranging from white to magenta to purple. The generic name is derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words λευκός (leukos), meaning "white," and φυλλον (phyllos), meaning "leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
," referring to the trichome-covered foliage.
These shrubs are found in sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
y soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s and have a high salt tolerance
Halophyte
A halophyte is a plant that grows where it is affected by salinity in the root area or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora . Relatively few plant species are...
. They have become popular for edge and area plantings in warmer areas and in xeriscaping
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping and xerogardening refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation...
; they require minimal water, are easily shaped into hedge
Hedge
Hedge may refer to:* Hedge or hedgerow, line of closely spaced shrubs planted to act as a barrier* Hedge , investment made to limit loss* Hedge , intentionally non-committal or ambiguous sentence fragments-See also:...
s, and bloom over their entire surface. Cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s of L. frutescens
Leucophyllum frutescens
Leucophyllum frutescens is an evergreen shrub in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, native to the state of Texas in the southwestern United States and the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in northern Mexico. Although commonly known as Texas Sage, it is not a true sage and is...
, L. candidum,
L. laevigatum, L. langmaniae, L. pruinosum, L. revolutum, and L. zygophyllum have been developed.
Leucophyllum shrubs are legendary for their ability to "forecast" rain, usually blooming several days prior to a rainstorm, apparently in response to humidity. They are sometimes called "barometer
Barometer
A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather...
bush" for this reason. It is believed to be a survival trait in the plants' semi-desert habitats.
Selected species
- Leucophyllum candidum I.M.Johnst.Ivan Murray JohnstonI. M. Johnston , was a United States botanist. He studied at Pomona College in Claremont, California and at Harvard University...
– Brewster County Barometer Bush - Leucophyllum frutescensLeucophyllum frutescensLeucophyllum frutescens is an evergreen shrub in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, native to the state of Texas in the southwestern United States and the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in northern Mexico. Although commonly known as Texas Sage, it is not a true sage and is...
(Berland.Jean-Louis BerlandierJean-Louis Berlandier was a French naturalist, physician, and anthropologist.Berlandier was born in rural Fort de l'Écluse, near France's border with Switzerland, and trained as a botanist in Geneva...
) I.M.Johnst. – Texas Sage, Texas Ranger, Silverleaf - Leucophyllum laevigatum Standl.Paul Carpenter StandleyPaul Carpenter Standley was an American botanist.Standley was born in Avalon, Missouri...
– Chihuahuan Sage - Leucophyllum langmaniae Flyr
- Leucophyllum minus A.GrayAsa Gray-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
– Big Bend Barometer Bush - Leucophyllum pruinosum I.M.Johnst.
- Leucophyllum revolutum Rzed.Jerzy RzedowskiJerzy Rzedowski Rotter is a Mexican botanist. He was born in Lwów, Poland .While he was young he was made prisoner by the Germans. He remained in a concentration camp until World War II finished and he was liberated by the Allies...
- Leucophyllum zygophyllum I.M.Johnst.
Hybrids
- Leucophyllum × 'Heavenly Cloud' (L. frutescens 'Green Cloud' × L. laevigatum)
- Leucophyllum × 'Rain Cloud' (L. frutescens × L. minus)