Chia
Salvia columbariae
Photographed in in Palm Canyon, California, taken March 2005 by
Wikimedia User:Stan Shebs. This photo is hosted at
Wikimedia where there are additional images of
Salvia species.
FLOWERS: Deep blue-purple flowers are two-lipped and are clustered into
capitate inflorescences arranged in a verticle tier.
RANGE: Common throughout the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and also in the
Mojave and Chihuahuan Deserts.
LEAVES: - Pinnately parted leaves have a crinkled texture and are mostly
basal - arranged around stem close to soil level.
SEEDS: Each flower produces four 2mm nutlets as the ovary splits.
SPRING ANNUAL: Grows well especially in sandy washes to a height of 40
cm.
UNARMED.