Salvia cualensis var. cualensis

González-Gallegos, Jesús Guadalupe & Castro-Castro, Arturo, 2012, Salvia cualensis and Salvia cualensis var. perezii (Lamiaceae), two new taxa from the Sierra de El Cuale, Jalisco, Mexico, Phytotaxa 74 (1), pp. 47-58 : 51

Salvia cualensis var. cualensis

Petioles 1–2.5 mm long; leaf blades oblong-lanceolate, (5.2–)8.6–14.4 × 0.9–1.7 cm, rounded to short cuneate at the base. Inflorescences (4–) 8–17 cm long, with 4- to 6-flowered verticillasters. Floral bracts ovatelanceolate, (7–)14–18.6 × 4–6.7 mm. Pedicel 2.7–4.4 mm long. Calyx 7.9–11 × 4.4–6.5 mm, veins covered with long straight and sometimes with tiny glandular-capitate hairs between them. Corolla tube (7.5–)8.5–11 × 3.5–4.4 mm; upper lip 5.2–8 mm long, lower lip 11.1–15 mm long. Connective 4.5–6.4(–7.5) mm long; thecae 1.7–2.5 mm long. Styles (11–) 12.4–13.6 mm long.

Distribution, habitat and phenology:— Salvia cualensis var. cualensis has been collected in three different areas in Sierra de El Cuale, Jalisco (figure 1). It is likely that an increase in the botanical exploration of this mountain range reveals a wider distribution. It grows in ecotones between pine-oak and tropical deciduous forests at 1130 to 1600 m. It blooms and fructifies from July to October.

Additional specimens (paratypes) examined:— MEXICO. Jalisco: Mascota, Ejido Zapotán, 8.5–9 km al SO de El Mosco, por la brecha rumbo a El Nogalito, frente al montículo rocoso conocido como Cerro del Cabro , 1600 m, 20°31’40”N 104°57’01”W, 21 July 2011 (fl), J . G . González-G. 1040, A. Castro-Castro, R . Guerrero-H. & C. Beltrán ( IBUG!, IEB!, MEXU!, ZEA!); Talpa de Allende, 2 km al SO de El Cuale por la brecha hacia las Minas de Zimapán , 1540 m, 20°23’10.7”N 105°4’46.6”W, 28 October 2011 (fl), J . G . González-G. 1153 & D. Juárez ( IBUG!); Talpa de Allende, entre el aserradero de El Cuale y la brecha que sube a las minas de Zimapan, 500–600 m al S de la población, aproximadamente 26 km en línea recta al O de Talpa , 20.388°N 105.073°W, 15 July 2012 (fl, fr), J . G . González-G. 1214, A. Castro-Castro, G . Munguía-Lino, E . De Castro-Arce & V . Ramírez-Cruz ( IBUG!, MEXU!) .

Etymology:—The epithet of Salvia cualensis makes reference to the Sierra de El Cuale, a unique and interesting mountain range of Western Mexico.