Phlomis
platystegia
Post
Bull. Herb.
Boissier 1:407 (1893)
Synonym:P.
imbricata Boissier in sched.
Distribution
in the wild:
Israel, on rocky
slopes in deserts, usually with Origanum dayi.
Flowering
in the wild:March-June
platystegia
means with broad bracteoles.
This
has leaves somewhat reminiscent of P. leucophracta,
but much narrower and grey speckled. A very attractive foliage,
but distinctly tender. Winter leaves are larger and hair
cover thinner to promote photosynthesis. Its woody base
can give it the impression of being a true shrub.
Herbaceous
perennial (chamaephyte) 50-100 cm. Stems woolly floccose.
Leaves oblong to ovate-oblong, crenate at margin, 3-10 ×
2-4 cm. Cauline leaves petiolate, obtuse, cuneate to cordate
at base, green above, canescent below. Floral leaves sessile.
Three or more distant whorls, many flowered, per stem. Bracteoles
numerous, flat, ovate to oblanceolate, acute, 3-10 mm broad,
and nearly as long as calyx. Calyx tubular-campanulate,
12-15 mm, golden stellate hairy, partly glabrescent at maturity.
Corolla golden yellow 24-30 mm. Hardy to -10°C.
