Lavandula L.
Perennial herbs or small shrubs. Lvs usually simple, occasionally pinnate. Verticels forming lax or dense, terminal, simple or branched spikes. Bracts very variable but differing distinctly from lvs and sometimes forming a terminal plume. Calyx tubular, (8)-13-(15)-nerved, not gibbous at base, 5-toothed; posterior tooth often enlarged and sometimes with an appendage. Corolla ± 2-lipped, hairy outside, at least on limb, usually blue, mauve or purplish (sometimes white or pink in cvs); lobes almost equal. Stamens 4, included, declined. Style gynobasic, its branches equal. Nutlets glabrous, generally smooth, with a pale areole denoting area of attachment.
Key
c. 30 spp., nearly all in the Mediterranean and Macaronesia, a few spp. south to Ethiopia. Naturalised spp. 2.
The 2 spp. described below both belong to sect. Stoechas Ging., distinguished by the presence of large, terminal sterile bracts and the absence of bracteoles. Members of sect. Spica Ging., lacking any enlarged terminal bracts but with bracteoles present, are very common cultigens in many colder parts of N.Z.; they are mostly selections or hybrids of L. angustifolia Miller (L. spica L. pro parte.) and L. latifolia Villars. These hybrids are collectively called L. × intermedia Lois., a few being valued as a source of oil of lavender. L. angustifolia is often known as English lavender.
