Saltmarsh Sea Lavender

The name Limonium perfoliatum (Karelin ex Boissier) Kuntze, usually now treated as a synonym of L. reniforme (Girard) Linczevski, was misapplied to this species by J. T. Howell et al. (1958) and P. A. Munz (1968).

Leaves in basal rosettes and on inflorescence axes, leaves in rosettes dead before anthesis; petiole 3-8 cm, ± equaling blade; blade obovate to oblong, 3-8 × 1.5-3 cm, base tapered, margins ± entire, apex unknown, venation not seen; leaves on inflorescence axes sessile, clasping stems, blade ± round, less than 3 cm. Inflorescences: axes not winged, sometimes angled, 40-80+ cm × 2-3 mm, glabrous; nonflowering branches present, especially in proximal part, slender; spikelets densely aggregated at branch tips, internodes 1-2 mm; subtending bracts whitish, 1-2 mm, truncate, surfaces and margins glabrous; flowers 1-2(-3) per spikelet. Flowers: calyx whitish distally, with reddish brown ribs, obconic, proximal 2 pilose between and on ribs (hairs 0.2-0.4 mm); tube ± 1.5-2 mm; lobes 0.5-0.7 × 0.5-0.7 mm; petals blue to whitish, ca. 0.5 mm, exceeding tube. Utricles 1-2 mm. 2n = 18.

Herbs, perennial, 30--90(--120) cm tall. Rhizomes dark red-brown, usually apical part erect, apically becoming a thickened caudex. Leaves basal and on peduncle and rachis, withered by anthesis; leaf blade 3--6(--8) X 1--2(--3) cm including petiole; basal leaves with narrow petiole, leaf blade obovate-spatulate, base attenuate, apex obtuse to rounded; other leaves sessile, broadly ovate to reniform, base clasping, leaving ringlike scars after abscissing. Inflorescences solitary or several from different leaf rosettes; rachis 4--7 X branched; basal branches sterile; branchlets slender, numerous; spikes arranged along apical part and terminal on slender branches, with 2--5(--7) spikelets; spikelets 1(or 2)-flowered; bracts broadly ovate, ca. 1 mm, membranous except base; first bractlet ca. 2 mm. Calyx obconical, 2.2--2.5 mm; tube glabrous or slightly pubescent along one side; limb white. Corolla pale blue-purple. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

introduced; Calif.; w, c Asia.

Gansu, N Xinjiang [N Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].

Flowering Sep-Feb.

Disturbed coastal and urban areas, especially salt marshes, roadsides; 0-100m.

Saline soil; 300--1400 m.

Statice otolepis Schrenk, Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg 1: 362. 1843

Statice otolepis Schrenk, Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 1: 362. 1843.

Limonium otolepis, the saltmarsh sea lavender, lacy sea lavender or Asian sea lavender, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plumbaginaceae. It is native to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Xinjiang and western Gansu in China. A halophyte, it is common in saline areas, such as the bed of the former Aral Sea. It has been introduced to California as a garden escapee, and is also present in southeastern Australia. There appears to be an ornamental cultivar, 'Lavender Lace'.