Salvia thymoides
Encyclopedia
Salvia thymoides is an evergreen perennial shrub native to a small region in Mexico on the border of Oaxaca
and Puebla
states, growing at elevations from 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) to 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). Its native habitat is cloud forest
, with the mountains catching regular moisture in the form of fog and rain. The plant was named by the botanist George Bentham
in 1833, with the specific epithet, thymoides, referring to the small leaves which resemble those of thyme
. It has a limited use in horticulture, introduced for the first time in the 1980s.
Salvia thymoides is an upright plant that reaches 1 foot (0.3048 m) tall and wide, with grey-green 0.25 inch (0.635 cm) leaves that are evergreen and profusely cover the plant. The 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) flowers are purple-blue, and held in a tiny dark purple calyx, growing on whorls that are held on a short inflorescence that is 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
and Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
states, growing at elevations from 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) to 9000 feet (2,743.2 m). Its native habitat is cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
, with the mountains catching regular moisture in the form of fog and rain. The plant was named by the botanist 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 1833, with the specific epithet, thymoides, referring to the small leaves which resemble those of thyme
Thyme
Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...
. It has a limited use in horticulture, introduced for the first time in the 1980s.
Salvia thymoides is an upright plant that reaches 1 foot (0.3048 m) tall and wide, with grey-green 0.25 inch (0.635 cm) leaves that are evergreen and profusely cover the plant. The 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) flowers are purple-blue, and held in a tiny dark purple calyx, growing on whorls that are held on a short inflorescence that is 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.