Hyptis emoryi (Desert lavender)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Hyptis emoryi Torr.

Desert lavender

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Lamiaceae	Mint family
Genus	Hyptis	From the Greek huptios for “turned back,” from the lower lip position of the flower
Species	emoryi	After Maj. William Hemsley Emory (1811-1887), Army officer and Director of the Mexican Boundary Survey

About plant names...

Desert lavender, a member of the mint family, is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, found at elevations below 3000′ (914 m). It is a perennial, but it drops its leaves if it is too cold.

Identification: This shrub has multiple gray stems that are square in cross-section, and is 6-15′ (1.8-4.6 m) high. Leaves are oval, up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm), feltlike, covered with fine hairs that make them look gray-green, with fine-toothed edges. When crushed, the leaves have a strong smell of lavender or sage with a touch of honey. Flowers are lavender-colored or sometimes a brighter violet. Individual flowers are ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) around, with five petals. They occur in clusters.

Online References:

Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert

George and Audrey DeLange's Arizona wildflower site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Desert-tropicals.com

CalPhotos

The Plant List at AZArboretum.org

Wikimedia Commons

The Jepson Manual