LEUCOPHYLLUM
Leucophyllum
Bonpl. in Humboldt & Bonpland, Pl. Aequinoct 2: 95, p. 109. 1812; Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 17: 332.
Small to medium-sized shrub. Stem squarish, erect, well-branched, densely silvery-grey, tomentose. Leaves exstipulate, petiolate, persistent, cauline, alternate, subopposite, opposite, leaf blade soft, velvety, bluish green. Flowers solitary axillary, slightly zygomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous, violet to purple to pink, soft and velvety. Pedicels, bracts and bracteoles absent. Sepals 5, calyx radially symmetric, campanulate. Petals 5, corolla slightly bilaterally symmetric, funnelform-campanulate, bilabiate, adaxial (posterior, upper) lip with 2 lobes and abaxial (anterior, lower) lip with 3 lobes, lobes oblong to squarish, densely hairy; corolla mostly purplish lavender to blue with white in proximal throat, usually marked with yellow-brown, orange or purple-violet spots. Stamens 4, adnate to corolla tube proximally, didynamous, filaments generally glabrous or pilose near base; staminodes nil. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary superior, 2-locular, placentation axile; stigma bilobed. Capsules, oblong-ovoid. Seeds 15-25, yellowish brown, irregularly ovoid, minutely reticulate.
17 species
Leucophyllum frutescens
Leucophyllum frutescens
(Berland.) M. Johnst., Contr. Gray Herb. 70: 89. 1924; Henrickson & Nesom, Fl. North Amer. 17: 333.
Shrubs, erect, profusely branched, 1.5-2.5 m tall. Young stem densely silvery-grey tomentose, hairs conic to cylindric, dendritic, uneven in height. Leaves alternate; petioles 1-2 mm long, silver-grey tomentose; leaf blade oblong-obovate or oblong-elliptic, 25-42 mm x 12-21 mm, base cuneate, margin entire, apex obtuse with or without mucro, midvein and major lateral veins raised abaxially, surface silver-grey, adaxial more greenish, hairs as on stem. Flowers solitary axillary, ebracteate, 2-2.8 cm x ca. 2.5 cm, zygomorphic, bisexual, purplish-lavender to pink, hypogynous; pedicels small, 3-4 mm long, pubescence like young branches. Calyx campanulate, radially symmetrical, ca. 8 mm long; tube short, 2 mm long; lobes 5, ca. 6 mm x 3 mm, oblong-lanceolate, silvery-grey, pubescent, hairs as in leaves. Petals 5, connate; corolla bilaterally symmetric, funnelform, 2-lipped, upper lip with 2 lobes and lower lip 3-lobed, lobes 8-10 mm x 7-9 mm, adaxial (inner) surface white pilose, apex truncate, rounded or sometimes emarginate; corolla tube ca. 1.8 cm long and ca. 1 cm wide near throat, densely pilose on lower side, brown spots with white halo in the middle part of throat on lower side. Stamens 4, included, adnate to corolla tube proximally, didynamous, filaments 1- 1.2 cm long; anthers 1.5-2 mm, divaricate. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary 3-3.5 mm long, ovate, slightly flat, 2-locular, many ovules on axile placentas; style ca. 10 mm long; stigma bifid.
Fruits not observed.
Common Names: Texas Sage, Silver Leaf, Barometer Bush
