Lepechinia fragrans

Taxobox
name = "Lepechinia fragrans"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Lamiales
familia = Lamiaceae
genus = "Lepechinia"
species = "L. fragrans"
binomial = "Lepechinia fragrans"
binomial_authority = (Greene) Epling

"Lepechinia fragrans" (Fragrant Pitcher Sage) is a flowering herbaceous shrub found in open areas in chaparral. It is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family. "Lepechinia" is one member of this family whose flowers are not held in tight whorls, as is often the case for the Lamiaceae, but are instead held in pairs in loose, pendant racemes. There are 40 species in the genus "Lepechinia", which is named for the Russian Botanist, I.I. Lepechin. "Lepechinia" is only found in the Western Hemisphere, in California, Mexico and South America, with its greatest diversity in the Andes.

Distribution

"Lepechinia fragrans" is endemic to California. It is found in open areas in chaparral, in dry ravines, on rocky slopes and ridgetops, above 60 m. and below 1100 m. It is known in the Trifuno Pass area of the Santa Monica Mountains and in the San Gabriel Mountains, as well as the north Channel Islands. It may also exist in Ventura County and areas on the south coast below Los Angeles County. It is threatened by development and by fire management. While it is not listed as a threatened or endangered plant by the State of California or by the U.S. federal government, it is listed by the California Native Plant Society as a plant of limited distribution which is fairly endangered and should be watched.

Characteristics

"L. fragrans" is a vase-shaped herbaceous shrub from .6 m. to just under 2 m. in height and equal in spread. It tends to grow taller in shade, and somewhat shorter in sun. The plant itself is light green, but the many hairs give it a fuzzy grayish-green appearance.

The entire plant is hairy, with long nonglandular hairs and glands which have short or no stalks. It has a beautiful aroma which is released by touching the glands. Its arching branches become woody towards the base of the plant. It has the square stems of the mint family, which are very pronounced in this species.

The leaves can be deltate-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, and are entire or slightly serrate. They are petioled below and generally larger, to 12 cm. Upper leaves can be sessile and are generally smaller, as little as 4 cm. Like many of California's plants, it has two types of leaves. Larger, lusher leaves are produced during the rainy season in winter, and some of these are shed during the dry season, and are replaced by leaves which are smaller and greyer.

The flowers range in color from white through pale pink to medium purple. They are petiloled and subtended by leaf-like bracts. The calyx has 5 lobes and is slightly two-lipped. It is persistent in fruit and enlarges, becoming slightly inflated and turning purple. The corolla is campanulate and 25-30 mm. It has 5 lobes and is also two-lipped. The upper lip has 4 lobes, and the lower lip is slightly longer. The 4 stamens are ranked in 2 pairs, and are included in the throat of the corolla, as is the style, which has 2 lobes.

The fruits are 4 smooth to shiny nutlets which are dark brown to black in color. They are round to ovate, with a length of 2-4 mm.

Horticulture

This plant is easy to grow, and is easy to propagate from seed, but can be short-lived in the garden. "Lepechinia fragrans" "has the most attractive flowers and most pleasing scent of all our native [pitcher sage] species" according to "California Native Plants for the Garden." It will grow in sun or light shade, and likes good drainage. It is pollinated by bumblebees. It should be pinched back to create a more compact, fuller plant. The cultivar "El Tigre," from El Tigre ridge on Santa Cruz Island, has darker blooms and more purple in the calyx and bracts. It is also more compact.

References

Harley, Ray; 2000. In Search of Labiatae in Eastern Brazil, Vitex, A Newsletter for Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae Research. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK

Averett, Deborah Engle; Jepson Manual treatment for Lepechinia fragrans. Jepson Flora Project Interchange, Regents of the University of California. [Online] , http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4766,4769

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2006. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v7-06b). California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. Accessed on Tue, May. 30, 2006 from http://www.cnps.org/inventory

Junak, Ayers, Scott, Wilken, and Young; 1995. A Flora of Santa Cruz Island. CNPS Press and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Bornstein, Fross, and O'Brien, 2005. California Native Plants for the Garden. Cachuma Press