Agastache micrantha (A. Gray) Woot. & Standl.
Family: Lamiaceae
white giant hyssop,  more...
[Cedronella micrantha A. Gray]
Agastache micrantha image

Plant: perennial herb; to 60 cm tall, with a woody caudex; stems erect, 2-3 mm in diameter at midpoint, numerous

Leaves: lanceolate, 1.5-4.5 cm long, pale green above, gray-green below, the blades mostly 2.5-3 times longer than wide; base truncate to acute; margin serrate; apex acute

INFLORESCENCE: continuous spikes 8-10(-15) cm long, with 10-15 verticils

Flowers: calyx green to tan, 2.5-3.5 mm long, the tube 2(-3) mm long, not appearing plicate, the secondary costae thinner than or equalling the primary costae or indistinct; corolla tube 2.5-3.5 mm long, white; stamens and pistil slightly exserted

Fruit: NUTLETS ca. 1 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, ovoid to oblong, light brown, with hairs in upper half

Misc: Granitic outcrops, along washes on oak-grassland areas and pinyon-juniper zones; 1600-2300 m (5200-7500 ft); Aug-Oct

REFERENCES: Christy, Charlotte M. 2003. Lamiaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 35(2).

Christy et al. 2003

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Herbs to 60 cm tall with a woody caudex, numerous erect stems, 2-3 mm in diameter at midpoint.

Leaves: Lanceolate, 1.5-4.5 cm long, pale green above, gray-green below, the blades mostly 2.5-3 times longer than wide, base truncate to acute, serrate margin, acute apex.

Flowers: Continuous spike 8-10 cm long, with 10-15 verticils; calyx green to tan, 2.5-3.5 mm long, the tube 2 mm long, not appearing folded, the secondary costae thinner than or equaling the primary costae or indistinct; corolla tube 2.5-3.5 mm long, white; stamens and pistil slightly exserted.

Fruits: Nutlets about 1 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, ovoid to oblong, light brown, with hairs in upper half.

Ecology: Found on granitic outcrops, along washes in oak-grassland and pinon juniper zones from 5,000-7,500 ft (1524-2286 m); flowers August-October.

Notes: Told apart from other Agastache by its continuous spike, its minute flowers, and its leaves that are much longer than wide. Purported to be at Tonto NM, but there is some question as to the validity of this, due to the range of the species. Collect this species or genera for further clarity.

Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in this genus have a variety of medicinal uses.

Etymology: Agastache is from Greek agan, very much, and stachys, an ear of corn or wheat, in reference to the spikes of the plant, while micrantha means small flowered.

Synonyms: Cedronella micrantha

Editor: SBuckley, 2010