Biology
provided by Arkive
This long-lived perennial species mainly flowers from late May to early July (4). Flowers are pollinated by insects (1), bumblebees are the main visitors (4), and a large amount of seed is produced (1). The seeds, which are released after mid-July, are able to remain dormant in the soil for at least a year (1). Seedlings become established where gaps of bare soil open up in the sward, such as worm casts and rabbit scrapes, and areas grazed by rabbits seem to provide good conditions for seedling establishment (1). Vegetative reproduction is also known to occur (4), and single plants are able to persist for at least 30 years (4).
The seeds of meadow clary were used in the past to remove particles from eyes and to reduce inflammation or redness (7); indeed the name 'clary' is derived from 'clear-eye' (1). It was also used as a gargle for sore throats, and to clean teeth (1).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
Meadow clary is included in Plantlife's 'Back From The Brink' programme, and is listed under English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. A Species Action Plan has been produced, and work to date to help this plant includes scrub clearance, soil disturbance, experimental grazing which resulted in an increase in the number of plants at one site, and supplementation of small populations in order to bolster their numbers (1) (3). The Cotswold Rare Plants Group works closely with Plantlife in monitoring and conserving this beautiful species (8). In addition, meadow clary seeds have been collected for the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1).
Description
provided by Arkive
Meadow clary is an attractive herb (1), which produces striking deep blue to violet hooded flowers. These are 20 to 30 millimetres long, and held aloft on a long raceme (a flower spike upon which the individual flowers have stalks), which may reach 80 centimetres in height (2). Some populations contain male-sterile plants, which have smaller flowers (4). The leaves are a rich, dark green colour and have a crinkled upper surface (2).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Typically grows on unimproved calcareous or neutral grasslands (1) such as pastures grazed by sheep or cattle, meadows, roadsides, woodland edges and scrub (2).
Range
provided by Arkive
This species was once found in Britain from Lincolnshire south to Dorset, but is currently known from less than 30 sites (3). The main areas are the North and South Downs, the Chilterns, the Wiltshire plains and limestone areas of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire (1); the main stronghold of the species is the Cotswolds (5). It has also been introduced to many sites (1). Elsewhere it is distributed from Morocco and the Pyrenees in the south, to Britain in the north and Turkey and the Urals in the east (4). It rare in northern Europe and Scandinavia (6), reaching as far north as southern Sweden (2).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Lower Risk - nationally scarce by the British Red Data Book (1), but should now be considered Nationally Scarce (1). Fully protected by Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (3).
Threats
provided by Arkive
Loss of the prefered unimproved grassland habitat, unsuitable management (4), scrub invasion, and intensification of agricultural practices including the use of chemical herbicides and fertilisers, are possible threats (4).
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
sporangium of Peronospora lamii parasitises live Salvia pratensis
Other: unusual host/prey
Salvia pratensis
provided by wikipedia EN
Salvia pratensis, the meadow clary[1] or meadow sage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. The Latin specific epithet pratensis means "of meadows", referring to its preferred habitat. It also grows in scrub edges and woodland borders.
Description
This herbaceous perennial forms a basal clump 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) tall, with rich green rugose leaves that are slightly ruffled and toothed on the edges. The stems have four edges and are clad in glandular and soft hairs. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, with those on the lower part of the stem up to 15 cm (6 in) long, decreasing in size higher up the stem. The flower stalks are typically branched, with four to six flowers in each verticil forming a lax spike. The flowers may grow up to 2.5 cm (1 in) and open starting from the base of the inflorescence, which grows up to 30.5 cm (12 in) long. The small calyx is dark brown. The corolla is irregular, 20 to 30 mm (0.8 to 1.2 in) long, fused with two lips and long-tubed. The upper lip arches in a crescent shape and the lower lip is three-lobed with the central lobe larger than the lateral lobes. In the wild the corolla is usually bluish-violet. In cultivation, the flowers have a wide variety of colors, from rich violet and violet-blue to bluish white, and from pink to pure white. There are two long stamens protected by the upper corolla lip and the fruit is a four-chambered schizocarp.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
Salvia pratensis is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa where it grows in meadows, fields, banks and rough places.[3] It has become naturalized in many parts of the United States, and is considered a noxious weed in the state of Washington.[4][5] At one time it was banned from California because it was thought to have naturalized in three locations.
Cultivation
Salvia pratensis is hardy in the severest European climates, down to −20 °C (−4 °F). It is widely grown in horticulture, especially Salvia pratensis subsp. haematodes,[6] which is prized by flower arrangers as a cut flower. Some botanists consider it a separate species, S. haematodes.[2]
Named cultivars include:-
- 'Atroviolacea', dark blue to violet
- 'Baumgartenii', blue to violet
- 'Lupinoides', to 60 cm (24 in), white-flecked blue to purple
- 'Mitsommer' ("Midsummer"), sky blue
- 'Rosea', rose-pink to purple
- 'Rubicunda', rose-red
- 'Tenorii', to about 60 cm (24 in) tall, blue flowers
- 'Variegata', blue and sometimes white-tipped flowers.[6]
AGM cultivars
The cultivar group Haematodes,[7] and the cultivar 'Indigo' with violet blue flowers, have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9]
Uses
The name of the plant 'clary' is derived from 'clear-eye' and the plant seeds were formerly used as a paste to remove particles from the eyes and to reduce inflammation or redness. It was also used as a gargle for sore throats, and to clean teeth. It has also been used as a flavouring for beers and wines.[10]
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Salvia pratensis: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Rose colored form.
Flower close-up
Salvia pratensis, the meadow clary or meadow sage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. The Latin specific epithet pratensis means "of meadows", referring to its preferred habitat. It also grows in scrub edges and woodland borders.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Rose colored form. 
Flower close-up 
