Salvia pentstemonoides (Big red sage) is a herbaceous perennial that is rare in nature and native to only a few locations in Texas, including the Edwards Plateau. The plant remains endangered due to destruction of habitat and browsing by deer. The severe Texas drought of the 1950s may have contributed to its decline.[1]
Big red sage was thought to be extinct beginning around 1946, until it was rediscovered by botanist Marshall Enquist in 1980 while shooting pictures for his Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country. At first, Enquist didn't realize he had taken a photo of an 'extinct' plant. He identified it as Salvia pentstemonoides from a guide book which didn't state that the plant was considered extinct. Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country was finally published in 1987, without S. pentstemonoides. That year, Enquist began thinking about adding some more wildflowers—including S. pentstemonoides—to a second edition. While inquiring about the plant, he was surprised to learn that it had been considered extinct for many years.[1][2] In 1988, Enquist received the Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas for his rediscovery of Salvia pentstemonoides.[3]
The first written account of the plant was in 1845, when it was collected by botanist Ferdinand Lindheimer, who sent a sample to botanist George Engelmann. Engelmann sent it to Carl Sigismund Kunth and Peter Karl Bouché in Germany, who first published and named the plant in 1848.[4] It was also documented growing along Salado Creek in San Antonio in 1849.[1] The specific epithet pentstemonoides is frequently misspelled as "penstemonoides". The plant was originally named after an early spelling of Penstemon by Carl Linnaeus that added an extra "t". Since it was first described and named as "pentstemonoides", that spelling is considered the correct one. As the name suggests, the plant resembles penstemon.[5][6]
Descriptionedit
Salvia pentstemonoides typically grows in limestone rock along seeps or creeks,[1] reaching up to 5 feet tall with square stems, often with long basal leaves in addition to opposite cauline leaves.[5] The leaves are mistletoe-green colored, lancelike in shape, growing in a basal rosette. Numerous flowering stalks grow from the rosette, with inflorescences that are 8–12 inches long, having whorls of loosely packed flowers. The 1-inch flowers are beetroot-purple colored, with a .5-inch calyx that is the color of red wine.[1] The flowers are edible, and the leaves give off a lemon-lime scent when brushed or rubbed.[7]
In cultivation, Salvia pentstemonoides likes fast-draining soil with limestone or ground oystershells added. It prefers morning sun with high shade, but grows well in full sun in areas of high humidity. Deep weekly watering is also preferred. The plant is hardy to about 20 °F (−7 °C) and easily propagated by seed; propagation through cuttings is possible and clumps can be divided provided it's done with care.[1] It is very attractive to hummingbirds.[7]
Notesedit
^ abcdefClebsch, Betsy; Barner, Carol D. (2003). The New Book of Salvias. Timber Press. p. 223. ISBN978-0-88192-560-9.
^Enquist, Marshall (November–December 1987). "On the Trail of the "Big Red" Salvia" (PDF). Native Plant Society of Texas News. Native Plant Society of Texas. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
^"Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award". Native Plant Society of Texas. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
^Ward, Bill. (PDF). Boerne Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas. Native Plant Society of Texas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
^ abPoole, Jackie M. (2007). Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 436–438. ISBN978-1-58544-557-8.
^ ab"Salvia penstemonoides Kunth & Bouché". Native Plant Database. University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
External linksedit
USDA Plants profile
IPNI listing
On the Trail of the "Big Red" Salvia, by Marshall Enquist
January 01, 1970
salvia, pentstemonoides, sage, herbaceous, perennial, that, rare, nature, native, only, locations, texas, including, edwards, plateau, plant, remains, endangered, destruction, habitat, browsing, deer, severe, texas, drought, 1950s, have, contributed, decline, . Salvia pentstemonoides Big red sage is a herbaceous perennial that is rare in nature and native to only a few locations in Texas including the Edwards Plateau The plant remains endangered due to destruction of habitat and browsing by deer The severe Texas drought of the 1950s may have contributed to its decline 1 Salvia pentstemonoides Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Asterids Order Lamiales Family Lamiaceae Genus Salvia Species S pentstemonoides Binomial name Salvia pentstemonoidesKunth amp Bouche Big red sage was thought to be extinct beginning around 1946 until it was rediscovered by botanist Marshall Enquist in 1980 while shooting pictures for his Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country At first Enquist didn t realize he had taken a photo of an extinct plant He identified it as Salvia pentstemonoides from a guide book which didn t state that the plant was considered extinct Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country was finally published in 1987 without S pentstemonoides That year Enquist began thinking about adding some more wildflowers including S pentstemonoides to a second edition While inquiring about the plant he was surprised to learn that it had been considered extinct for many years 1 2 In 1988 Enquist received the Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas for his rediscovery of Salvia pentstemonoides 3 Contents 1 History and taxonomy 2 Description 3 Notes 4 External linksHistory and taxonomy editThe first written account of the plant was in 1845 when it was collected by botanist Ferdinand Lindheimer who sent a sample to botanist George Engelmann Engelmann sent it to Carl Sigismund Kunth and Peter Karl Bouche in Germany who first published and named the plant in 1848 4 It was also documented growing along Salado Creek in San Antonio in 1849 1 The specific epithet pentstemonoides is frequently misspelled as penstemonoides The plant was originally named after an early spelling of Penstemon by Carl Linnaeus that added an extra t Since it was first described and named as pentstemonoides that spelling is considered the correct one As the name suggests the plant resembles penstemon 5 6 Description editSalvia pentstemonoides typically grows in limestone rock along seeps or creeks 1 reaching up to 5 feet tall with square stems often with long basal leaves in addition to opposite cauline leaves 5 The leaves are mistletoe green colored lancelike in shape growing in a basal rosette Numerous flowering stalks grow from the rosette with inflorescences that are 8 12 inches long having whorls of loosely packed flowers The 1 inch flowers are beetroot purple colored with a 5 inch calyx that is the color of red wine 1 The flowers are edible and the leaves give off a lemon lime scent when brushed or rubbed 7 In cultivation Salvia pentstemonoides likes fast draining soil with limestone or ground oystershells added It prefers morning sun with high shade but grows well in full sun in areas of high humidity Deep weekly watering is also preferred The plant is hardy to about 20 F 7 C and easily propagated by seed propagation through cuttings is possible and clumps can be divided provided it s done with care 1 It is very attractive to hummingbirds 7 Notes edit a b c d e f Clebsch Betsy Barner Carol D 2003 The New Book of Salvias Timber Press p 223 ISBN 978 0 88192 560 9 Enquist Marshall November December 1987 On the Trail of the Big Red Salvia PDF Native Plant Society of Texas News Native Plant Society of Texas Retrieved 2009 02 17 Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award Native Plant Society of Texas Retrieved 2009 02 17 Ward Bill Solved the Mystery of the First Collected Big Red Sage PDF Boerne Chapter Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Society of Texas Archived from the original PDF on 2009 02 24 Retrieved 2009 02 17 a b Poole Jackie M 2007 Rare Plants of Texas A Field Guide Texas A amp M University Press pp 436 438 ISBN 978 1 58544 557 8 IPNI listing a b Salvia penstemonoides Kunth amp Bouche Native Plant Database University of Texas at Austin Retrieved 2009 02 17 External links editUSDA Plants profile IPNI listing Solved the Mystery of the First Collected Big Red Sage On the Trail of the Big Red Salvia by Marshall Enquist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Salvia pentstemonoides amp oldid 1206122272, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
