What's Blooming at the Los Angeles County
Arboretum

April 2007
Page Nine

Laelia cultivar No common name recorded Orchidaceae (Orchid family) Hort. (Orig. Tropical America)

Salvia officinalis 'Italian' Italian sage Lamiaceae (Mint family) Hort. (Orig. Spain, Balkans, N. Africa)

		The Lamiaceae, or mint family, contains about 200 genera and 3500 species of mostly herbs, some shrubs, and a few trees and climbers. It was known at one time as the Labiatae because the flowers typically have petals fused into an upper lip and a lower lip, but now takes its name from genus Lamium. This is a family that is familiar to most people due to its aromatic qualities and because it includes such important herbs as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, thyme, and lavender. It is a close relative of the vervain family and some phylletic revision is underway. The leaves are opposite and decussate or whorled, the stems are frequently square in cross section, and the flowers are bi-laterally symmetric with five united petals and five united sepals. Some other mem-bers familiar to most people are coleus, chia, and catnip. Aromatic oils are also utilized in the perfume industry.
Stachys byzantina Lambs' ears, Woolly betony Lamiaceae (Mint family) Caucasus to Iran

Asparagus virgatus Broom fern Asparagaceae (Asparagus family) South Africa

Carya illinoinensis Pecan Juglandaceae (Walnet family) Central U.S. to Northern Mexico

Melaleuca pentagona No common name recorded Myrtaceae (Myrtle family) Western Australia

Aquilegia cultivars Columbine Ranunculaceae Hort.

Nigella sativa Black cumin, Roman coriander Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family) Mediterranean

Macadamia tetraphylla Macadamia nut Proteaceae (Protea family) Eastern Australia

Ornithogalum sp. Star of Bethlehem Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinth family) South Africa, Mediterranean

Linaria sp. Toadflax Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)

Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Magnifica' Brazil rain tree Solanaceae (Nightshade family) Hort. (Orig. Brazil and Venezuela)

Currently unidentified

Calothamnus quadrifidus One-sided bottlebrush Myrtaceae (Myrtle family) Southwestern Australia

Chrysanthemum sp. Chrysanthemum Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Tradescentia cf. sillamontana White velvet, white gossamer Commelinaceae (Spiderwort family) Northeast Mexico

Viola hederacea Australian violet Violaceae (Violet family) Southeastern Australia

Ficus watkinsiana Watkins' fig Moraceae (Mulberry family) Eastern Australia [What appear to the fruits are actually the flowers enclosed in pods]

Capparis spinosa Capers Capparidaceae (Caper family) Mediterranean

Aloe porphyrostachys No common name recorded Asphodelaceae (Asphodel family) Saudi Arabia

Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed mat rush Xanthorrhoeaceae (Xanthorrhoea family) Australia

Abutilon palmeri Palmer's indian mallow Malvaceae (Mallow family) SW U.S. and Mexico

Dahlia 'Mystic Dreamer' Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Hort. (Orig. Mexico to Columbia)

Senecio bicolor ssp. cineria (= S. cinerea) Silver ragwort, Dusty miller Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Southern Europe

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April 2007 Page Ten