Author

Markee Baltazar

Common Name(s)

lyreleaf sage, cancerweed.

Electronic links

Species profile U.S.D.A. PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SALY2

Ecology

Open woods, meadows, roadsides, often abundant.

Family

Lamiaceae/Labiatae (mint Family)

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Flowering period

Mostly March to May.

Flowers

Calyx 5-lobed, bilabiate, 7--12 mm long, upper lip 3-toothed, lower lip 2-toothed;

Corolla 5-lobed, bilabiate, blue to violet with darker markings, rarely white, 1.5--3 cm long.

Stamens (fertile) two, slightly exserted, sterile stamens present or absent, both forks of connective bearing fertile anthers.

Pistil of 2 carpels with 4-lobed ovary, style gynobasic, style slightly exserted, style branches unequal in length, slender with acute apices; ovary lobes obovoid, ca. 2 mm long.

Fruit

Mericarps ovoid to ellipsoid, 2--2.3 mm long, dark brown, surface dull, somewhat warty.

Geographic distribution

Eastward from Texas and Kansas to New York and Florida.

Leaves

Basal leaves petiolate; elliptic to obovate, pinnately lobed, dissected, or unlobes, often lyrate, 5--17 cm long, pubescence strigose-hirsute, often purple tinged;

Stem leaves absent or 1--2 pairs present, elliptic, 2--8 cm long, entire to pinnately lobed.

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Plant and Stem Features

Perennial (annual)  from somewhat tuberous roots; scapiform with basal rosette of leaves; stems 3--8 dm tall; unbranched or with 1--2 pairs of branches, generally bearing 1--2 pairs of leaves, quadrangular in cross-section, pubescent.

References