Lyre-leafed Sage

Salvia lyrata prefers well-drained, sunny areas, so the short slope (slope.jpg) leading from the holly garden down to Crumhenge is the ideal location. There are species of sage, and gardeners have created many varieties of S. lyrata, but the plants below are the only member of their genus in the Crum (at least, the only one noted by Palmer). The square stem and the shape of the flowers are clear signs that it is in the large mint family (Lamiaceae), along with Henbit and Deadnettle.

Salvia lyrata

Samuel B. Palmer
Biology Dept.
Swarthmore College

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

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All of the Palmer Watercolors are courtesy of the Biology Department of Swarthmore College. A searchable database of the images is available through the Swarthmore library’s Triptych site.