Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea)

Lamber merah or tropical sage or scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) is a plant species in Lamiaceae, a perennial shrub, upright, up to 122 cm tall, angular, multi-branched, green or blackish green in color, hairy and flowers at the end of the stem in successive bunches.

S. coccinea has leaves in the shape of a heart or arrowhead, up to 7.6 cm long, 5.1 cm wide, blunt base, sharp tip, jagged border, has a bone in the middle with many branching veins, green upper side , the underside is lighter green and has thick hair.

The flowers have a variety of colors, usually bright red or white, vary in size and have a stalk. Some varieties have a tube shape with a whitish red tongue, 3.2 cm long and a fin on the underside. Flowers are pollinated by birds and butterflies.

Scarlet sage grows wild in forests, agricultural areas, edge of waterways, edge of roads and neglected areas. Often cultivated in urban green areas and private gardens. Cultivated varieties include orange-red, pink, salmon, red, white, and dark red, as well as two-color varieties.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Subtribe: Salviinae
Genus: Salvia
Species: Salvia coccinea
Varieties: Salvia coccinea var. coccinea, Salvia coccinea var. pseudo-coccinea

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