Lucas Land
Lyre-Leaved Sage
Salvia lyrata
A very striking plant first seen along the river in the Gorge and later in many locales on slopes along roads. The violet- tubular flowers are 1 inch long and are found in several distinct whorls along the top of the stem forming and interrupted terminal cluster. The basal leaves are deeply lobed forming a rosette at the base of the plant. The few stem leaves that occur are opposite, deep green colored and shiny. The stem is hairy. This plant will grow up to 2 feet tall in spring of early summer in dry woods or well drained slopes. The photo at the left was an attempt to show the leaf structure, but apparently failed - there was too much distance between the flower spike and the basal leaves.
