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Lyreleaf Sage - Salvia lyrata


Family: Lamiaceae - Mint family Genus Common Name: Sage Native Status: Native
Salvia lyrata - Lyreleaf Sage. Lyreleaf Sage is a member of the mint family. Leaves are primarily basal, are oblong and deeply pinnately lobed. The plant is 1 to 2 feet tall, and blossoms in late spring or early summer. It can dominate open fields during its blooming season. The genus name Salvia implies the many medicinal purposes for which many of the over 900 species in the genus are used; there are over 90 species of Salvia in North America.

Salvia lyrata can be weedy or invasive, according to some authorities.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV

Journal Articles Referencing Sage

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Salvia lyrata

Distribution of Salvia lyrata in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2009-May-04Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D60
1/60f/16 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
The blossom of Lyreleaf Sage is two-lipped, with the upper lip much shorter and narrower than the lower lip.
Salvia lyrata

Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2009-May-04Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/60f/16 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
The terminal racemes of Salvia lyrata have several nodes of whorled blossom clusters on the usually single stems.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Salvia lyrata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2012-April-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The leaves of Salvia lyrata are primarily in a basal rosette. They are on pedicels, and are usually pinnately lobed (occasionally unlobed), with up to 3 or 4 pair of side lobes, in addition to the larger terminal lobe. The shape of the terminal lobe and first pair of lateral lobes is reminiscent of a lyre, yielding the common name. The leaves are green, tinged with purple, or purple.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Salvia lyrata

Site: Chickamauga Battlefield, Catoosa County, Ga Date: 2014-April-29Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
A hummingbird moth (Hemaris sp.) nectaring at a Salvia lyrata plant.
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Salvia lyrata

Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2014-May-02Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Massive colonies of Lyreleaf Sage can turn a field almost blue, here mixed with Daisies.
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Salvia lyrata

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Salvia lyrata initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-12-22; Updated 2015-06-25

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302