Gariep Sage

It is a much-branched shrub growing to about 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) in height. The stems are quadrangular and may be woody or herbaceous. They are covered in a mixture of long, spreading, non-glandular hairs, shorter glandular hairs, and oil globules, giving the surface a glandular-pubescent texture. The leaves are highly variable in shape, ranging from oblong to broadly ovate or triangular. They are simple, 1.2–4.5 cm (0.47–1.77 in) long and 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) wide, with irregularly eroded to toothed margins. The leaf base may be truncate, heart-shaped, or rounded. Both glandular and non-glandular hairs are present on the leaves, along with oil globules. The petiole is up to 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long. The flowers are arranged in whorls, with up to ten of them per inflorescence, each bearing two to four flowers. The whorls are spaced up to about 1.5 cm (0.59 in) apart on the lower part of the inflorescence and become more closely packed towards the top. The floral leaves are broadly ovate, tapering to a point, and persist after flowering; bracts are present. Flower stalks are up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long and spread outward or slightly upward. The calyx is bell-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long, and expands to about 16 mm (0.63 in) as the fruit develops. It has 13 veins and is glandular-pubescent, with long non-glandular hairs and shorter glandular hairs. …