Salvia cynica Dunn

Plants perennial. Stems erect, 30-50 cm, sparsely pubescent. Petiole of stem leaves 1-11 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to broadly hastate-ovate or subcircular, 5-20 × 3-18 cm, sparsely hirtellous, abaxially sparsely yellow-brown glandular, base cordate-hastate, margin double dentate or serrate, apex acuminate. Verticillasters 2-6-flowered, widely spaced, in raceme-panicles to 20 cm; rachis pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 5-10 mm. Pedicel ca. 5 mm, pubescent. Calyx tubular, always purplish, pilose, sparsely red-brown glandular; tube 1.3-1.5 cm; upper lip broadly triangular, ca. 4 × 10 mm, apex with a mucro to 1.5 mm; lower lip ca. 6 × 8 mm, teeth narrowly triangular, apex acuminate; fruiting calyx slightly dilated, membranous. Corolla yellow, to 4 cm, subglabrous; tube finely pilose annulate inside; upper lip oblong, ca. 10 × 8 mm; lower lip subequal upper, spreading; middle lobe obcordate, margin shallow undulate; lateral lobes nearly semicircular. Filaments ca. 8 mm; connectives ca. 1.1 cm, upper arms ca. 7 mm, lower ca. 4 mm. Style slightly exserted. Nutlets brown, globose, ca. 2.8 mm in diam. Fl. Jul-Aug.

Sichuan.

* Streamsides, forests; 1500-3200 m.

Salvia cynica is a perennial plant that is native to Sichuan province in China, growing in forests and streamsides at 1,500 to 3,200 m (4,900 to 10,500 ft) elevation. The leaves are broadly ovate to broadly hastate-ovate or subcircular, ranging in size from 5 to 20 cm (2.0 to 7.9 in) long and 3 to 18 cm (1.2 to 7.1 in) wide.

Inflorescences are 2–6-flowered widely spaced verticillasters in raceme-panicles up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The yellow corolla is 4 cm (1.6 in), blooming July–August.