Salvia verbenaca L.

Spice Flower In the field Inflorescence

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Salvia

Catalan common name: Tàrrec.

Spanish common name: Gallocresta. Hierba de ciego. Hierba de Santa Lucía.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera. Dragonera.

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Fields. Path and road sides.

Characteristics: A herbaceous plant with most of its leaves at the base; they are dark green leaves with a lobulate margin which is dentate at the same time. An erect inflorescence grows from the centre of the plant, with violet-blue flowers and the typical lips of this family. The plant is covered in hairs and gives off a pleasant smell. It lives in dry fields, along path-sides, etc. The typical subspecies is not more than 40 cm high, whereas the subspecies horminoides can reach nearly one metre in height with very slightly divided leaves.