Family: Lamiaceae
Lavandula
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 572 (1753).
Derivation: Medieval Latin name for one of the species but origin uncertain although sometimes it is said to be derived from Latin lavare, to wash.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Lavenders.
Description:
Perennial shrubs with quadrangular branches becoming terete and woody towards the base, villous to woolly with branched hairs; leaves sessile, opposite, pinnatifid to entire.
Inflorescence a dense thyrse with sessile part-inflorescences more or less hidden by broad bracts and without internodes visible between them; sepals more or less completely and equally connate with lobes about equal and short except the dorsal lobe being continued into a broad terminal appendage, with branched to stellately branched hairs; corolla not 2-lipped but slightly zygomorphic, with 3 anterior lobes usually slightly shorter; stamens 4 fertile, inserted in about the middle of the corolla tube; anthers with 2 cells fertile and scarcely diverging at the base, included; ovary deeply 4-lobed, with each locule with 1 basal ovule, with a gynobasic style with a scarcely 2-lobed terminal stigma.
Fruit usually with 4 mericarps each oblong-obovoid with a distinct keel inside, with an attachment scar small, more or less round, basal.
Distribution:
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About 28 species mainly from the Mediterranean region but extending into north-east Africa and as far as India; 3 species are naturalised in Australia.
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Biology:
No text
Key to Species:
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1. Leaf margin pinnately lobed to dentate; peduncles 3-6 times longer than the spike-like inflorescence |
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L. dentata 1. |
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1. Leaf margin entire; peduncles shorter or rarely slightly longer than the spike-like inflorescence |
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L. stoechas 2. |
Author:
Not yet available
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