Salvia, Linnaeus

Sunojkumar, Purayidathkandy & Pradeep, Ayilliath Kuttiyeri, 2015, Salvia misella (Lamiaceae) - A new record for Asia from the southern Western Ghats of India, Phytotaxa 230 (3), pp. 281-286 : 284

Identification key to the species of Salvia in Western Ghats, India

1. Leaf base decurrent upon the length of petiole (petiole not distinct), corolla 7–7.5 mm long, calyx with glandular sticky hairs ...... ............................................................................................................................................................................................. S. misella

- Leaf base not decurrent upon the length of petiole (petiole distinctly 2–4 cm long), corolla> 10mm (15–40 mm) long, calyx without glandular sticky hairs............................................................................................................................................................2

2. Leaves linear or linear ovate, anthers and stigma lobes included within the upper corolla lip..........................................................3

- Leaves broadly ovate, anthers and stigma lobes well outside the upper corolla lip...........................................................................4

3. Leaves membraneous, calyx fully hairy outside, style hairy, lower corolla lip reduced (2–2.5 mm) and inconspicuous ................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... S. leucantha

- Leaves thick (often woolly) calyx not hairy, style glabrous, lower corolla lip spreading (5–6 mm) and conspicuous ....................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... S. officinalis

4. Calyx 7–8 mm long, corolla 20–22 mm long, connectives straight, stigma lobes unequal .............................................. S. coccinea

- Calyx 15–16 mm long, corolla 40–41 mm long, connectives bend, stigma lobes equal ................................................. S. splendens