Biology:Phlomis russeliana

Phlomis russeliana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Phlomis
Species:	P. russeliana
Binomial name
	Phlomis russeliana; (Sims) Lag. ex Benth.
Synonyms
	Phlomis lunariifolia var. russeliana Sims

Short description: Species of flowering plant

Phlomis russeliana, Turkish sage, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Turkey and Syria in south west Asia. It is often confused with the closely related P. samia,^[2] and wrongly marketed as Phlomis viscosa.^[3] Growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy, erect stems. The textured, grey-green, sage-like leaves are arrow shaped, and point downwards. In summer, whorls of green buds develop in the leaf axils at regular intervals up each vertical stem, giving a distinctive tiered effect. The buds open to globose clusters of dull yellow hooded flowers.^[4]

Phlomis russeliana is cultivated as an ornamental garden flower, in moist soil in full sun. It is hardy in all temperate zones down to −20 °C (−4 °F). The flowers are long-lasting, the dried flower-heads providing architectural interest throughout the winter months, as well as multiple seeds for propagation in the early spring.^[5] It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.^[4]