Taxonomy: Fam. Lamiaceae// Genus: Salvia// Species: Salvia aethiopis L.

Determined according to the botanical keys provided in Flora Europaea (Tutin et al., 1972).

Habitat: Found in open habitats - grassland, rocky terrains, on limestone, red soil.

Distribution: Native from Europe to Central Asia according to the Plants of the World Online portal.

Lifeform: Biennial to perennial according to Tutin et al. (1972). The populations in the Osogovo region show a typical biennial life cycle with 2 growth stages: vegetative in the first year, when a basal rosette is formed and generative stage in the second year when the plant forms stem with inflorescence.

Flowering period: Beginning of summer (JUN).

Salvia aethiopis - habit in habitat. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - habit in habitat. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - habit. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - habit. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - habit. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - habit. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - inflorescence. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - verticillasters. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - uppermost lleaves. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - cauline leaves. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - cauline leaves. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - basal leaf. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Salvia aethiopis - basal leaf. Hills near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Salvia aethiopis L. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:455581-1 [Accessed 01.07.2021]

Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1972). Flora Europaea. Volume 3: Diapensiaceae to Myoporaceae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.