Phlomis
russeliana
(Sims) Bentham
Lab. Gen. Sp. 629 (1834)
Illust.:
Bot. Mag. t. 2542 (1825)
Synonyms:
P. lunariifolia Smith
var. russeliana (Sims) Bentham
P. superba C Koch
Misidents.:
P. samia
misapplied
P.
viscosa misapplied
Distribution
in the wild:
Endemic to Turkey,
in coniferous and deciduous woods and clearings, Corylus
scrub. At 300-1700 m.
Flowering
in the wild:May-September
russeliana
is in honour of Dr Alexander Russell (c. 1715 - 1839), author of a
natural History of Aleppo.
One
of the most popular Phlomis in the UK, this plant
has very large heart-shaped green leaves on long petioles.
The basal leaves survive the winter. The erect unbranched
flower stems have bicoloured flowers (cream and yellow)
and are decorative in seed right through till the spring.
Its one fault(?) is its ability to spread fairly quickly.
Non-glandular
herb to 1˝ m; basal leaves persist throughout winter. Leaves
green above, whitish beneath, basal leaves broadly ovate-cordate,
obtuse with coarse crenate margin, 6-20 × 6-12 cm; petiole
to 28 cm. Floral leaves 6-21 × 2-11 cm, stalkless. Unbranched
flowering stems bearing up to 5 whorls each 12-20 flowered.
Whorls 5-8 cm across. Numerous bracteoles 10-20 × 1-2 mm,
incurved around calyx. Calyx 20-25 mm with teeth 2-5 mm,
splayed outwards. Calyx and bracteoles covered in dense
stellate hairs. Corolla 30-35 mm, upper lip of corolla cream,
lower lip golden yellow. Central lobe of lower lip to 1
cm across. Nutlets hairless. Hardy to -15°C
