Phlomis
Phlomis is a genus of over 100 species of herbaceous plants, subshrubs and shrubs in the mint family Lamiaceae, native from the Mediterranean region east across central Asia to China.
The name Phlomis derives from a Greek word for "flame", and may refer to the leaves' use in ancient times as lamp wicks. Common names include Jerusalem sage and lampwick plant.
Description
The overall size varies between species from 30 cm tall up to 2 m tall. The leaves are entire, opposite and decussate and rugose or reticulate veined. The bracts are similar or different from the lower leaves. All parts are frequently covered with hairs. The bracteoles are ovate, lanceolate or linear. The flowers are arranged in whorls called verticillasters which encircle the stems. The stems are usually square in section with rounded corners, although tomentum on the stems can make them appear circular. The colour of the flowers varies from yellow to pink, purple and white. The calyx is tubular or campanulate with five or ten veins visible. Five teeth, either all equal or with the outer two longer than the others. The upper lip is hood shaped and laterally compressed. The lower lip is trifid, the central lobe being larger than the lateral ones. There are four stamens ascending under the upper lip. Anther with forked end, the upper fork being shorter than the lower. The fruits are four three-sided nutlets, and sometimes topped with hair, sometimes glabrous. The root system can be very extensive; roots of 6-week-old seedlings have been measured at 0.7 m.Phlomis species are the only host plants of the moths Coleophora phlomidella and C. phlomidis.
Phlomic acid is named after the genus.
Systematics
The following species belong to genus Phlomis, but some of them are now distributed in the genus Phlomoides.''Phlomis''
Phlomis × alanyensis Phlomis amanica Phlomis angustissima Phlomis anisodonta Phlomis antiatlantica Phlomis armeniaca Phlomis aucheri Phlomis aurea Phlomis × bornmuelleri Phlomis bourgaei Phlomis bovei Phlomis brachyodon Phlomis brevibracteata Phlomis brevidentata Phlomis brevilabris Phlomis bruguieri Phlomis brunneogaleata Phlomis bucharica Phlomis cancellata Phlomis capitata Phlomis carica Phlomis cashmeriana Phlomis cashmirica Phlomis chimerae Phlomis chorassanica Phlomis chrysophylla Phlomis × cilicica Phlomis × commixta Phlomis × composita Phlomis cretica Phlomis crinita Phlomis cyclodon Phlomis cypria Phlomis × cytherea Phlomis dincii Phlomis drobovii Phlomis × ekimii Phlomis elliptica Phlomis elongata Phlomis floccosa Phlomis fruticetorum Phlomis fruticosa – Jerusalem sagePhlomis ghilanensis Phlomis grandiflora Phlomis herba-venti Phlomis hypoleuca Phlomis integrifolia Phlomis iranica Phlomis isiliae Phlomis italica Phlomis × kalanensis Phlomis kotschyana Phlomis kurdica Phlomis lanata Phlomis lanceolata Phlomis leucophracta Phlomis linearifolia Phlomis linearis Phlomis longifolia Phlomis lunariifolia Phlomis lurestanica Phlomis lychnitis - lampwick plantPhlomis lycia Phlomis majkopensis Phlomis × margaritae Phlomis mazandaranica Phlomis × melitenensis Phlomis mindshelkensis Phlomis × mobullensis Phlomis monocephala Phlomis × muglensis Phlomis nana Phlomis nissolii Phlomis nubilans Phlomis nyalamensis Phlomis olgae Phlomis olivieri Phlomis oppositiflora Phlomis orientalis Phlomis × pabotii Phlomis pachyphylla Phlomis persica Phlomis physocalyx Phlomis pichleri Phlomis platystegia Phlomis polioxantha Phlomis × praetervisa Phlomis purpurea Phlomis × rechingeri Phlomis regelii Phlomis rigida Phlomis russeliana Phlomis salicifolia Phlomis samia Phlomis × semiorbata Phlomis sewerzowii Phlomis × sieberi Phlomis sieheana Phlomis sintenisii Phlomis spinidens Phlomis × stapfiana Phlomis stewartii Phlomis syriaca Phlomis tathamiorum – from LebanonPhlomis tenorei Phlomis tenuis Phlomis × termessi Phlomis thapsoides Phlomis tomentosa Phlomis trineura Phlomis × tunceliensis Phlomis × vierhapperi Phlomis viscosa Phlomis × vuralii Phlomis × wendelboi- ''Phlomis zenaidae''