Phlomis
leucophracta
P.H. Davis & Huber-Morath
Kew Bull. :90
(1951)
Distribution
in the wild:Endemic
to Turkey, on limestone rocks, metamorphic slopes, maquis,
Quercus scrub, fallow fields at sea level-1000 m.
Flowering
in the wild:June–August
leucophracta
means white edged, referring
to the leaf margins.
This
beautiful shrub is easily recognisable from its leaves which
are green above and edged in a ‘blanket stitch’ rim of hairs
which can be white to yellow. The upper lip of the corolla
is a rust-brown colour. In plants under stress, the edges
of the leaves roll over the top surface to meet in the centre,
ensuring reduced transpiration.
There
are both tender and hardy forms in cultivation.
Evergreen
shrub to 1.5 m. Lower leaf laminas triangular-lanceolate-ovate,
cordate at base, crenate at margin, 5-12 × 2-5 cm; petiole
to 4.5 cm. Upper surface of leaf bright green with a broad
edge of white or golden hairs protruding from the underside.
Densely stellate beneath. Floral leaves oblong-lanceolate,
4-5.5 × 2.5-3.5 cm; petiole 1-3 cm. Felted stems, bearing
1-3 whorls of up to 12 flowers. Whorls 6-8 cm across. Bracteoles
subulate, narrowly lanceolate, 15-22 × 1-2 mm, covered with
sticky glandular stellate hairs. Calyx 20-27 mm, sticky
with subulate, erect teeth, short ones 5–9 mm, long ones
10–12 mm. Bracteoles and calyces widely divergent. Corolla
30-35 mm, upper lip of corolla rust brown, lower lip yellow
or outer lobes rust coloured. Nutlets hairless. H3 to H5.
A
selected wild-collected form with a strong yellow indumentum
on the stems and leaves was introduced by the author P.
leucophracta “Golden Janissary” Hardy
to -15°C Colour
P.
leucophracta ‘Silver Janissary’ is
similar to ‘Golden Janissary’, but with white hairs
and therefore a white edge. To -10°C
P.
leucophracta ‘White Edge’
is similar to
‘Silver Janissary’ but introduced in France.
Natural
hybrids:
P.
× alanyense Huber-Morath
Bauhinia
1(2):111 (1958)
(= P.
leucophracta P.H. Davis × P. lunariifolia Smith)
Distribution:
Turkey
A
natural Turkish hybrid between P. lycia and
P. leucophracta
as been named
Phlomis ‘Sunningdale Gold’.It has
the leaf shape of P. lycia with the
golden indumentum and brown upper lip of P. leucophracta.
Hardy to -15°C.
