Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Perennial of varying habit, aromatic, with punctate-glandular leaves and flowers, stems square, sometimes tinged deep purple, rootstocks creeping.

Leaves: Opposite, glabrous on both sides, deltate-ovate, margins with small, rounded teeth, 2.5-4 cm wide.

Flowers: Indigo blue, borne in interrupted spikes or terminal heads, the calyx laterally compressed and 2-lipped with small teeth, the corolla strongly 2-lipped with the upper lip helment-shaped, entire or 2-lobed, the lower lip spreading or drooping and 3-lobed. 2 fertile stamens inserted in the tube of the corolla, 2-cleft style surpassing the stamens.

Fruits: Two smooth nutlets.

Ecology: Found in rich, moist soils, in forests from 7,000-9,500 ft (2134-2896 m); flowering July-September.

Notes: The keys to this species are the perennial habit, the indigo-blue flowers, the stamens inserted within the upper lip of the corolla, and the deltate leaves with the rounded teeth.

Ethnobotany: There is no specific use recorded for this species, but the genus was used as an infusion to treat measels, and eaten raw for kidney troubles.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011

Etymology: Salvia comes from the Latin salveo, "I am well," and an herb, Salvia, used for healing, while arizonica means of or from Arizona.