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Yellow Germander |
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| Nomenclature |
Species name: |
Teucrium flavum L. |
Author(s): |
Carl von Linné;
Sweden, 1707-1778
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Synonyms: |
Teucrium flavum ssp. flavum, Teucrium flavum subs. pilosum, Teucrium majus |
Common names: |
Yellow Germander |
Maltese names: |
Borgħom Komuni |
Plant Family: |
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Status: |
Native |
Name Derivation: | Teucrium = Greek name attributed to Germander. It is believed that it is an old name for Teucer, the first king of Troy who used this plant for the first time in as a medicine. Teucer went to Cyprus, where he founded the town of Salamis and ruled as king. Further Info: [1]
[2]. (Greek origin)
flavum = Pure yellow. This refers to the particular yellowish colour of the flowers, where usually, species of Teucrium (Germander) have violet/lilac flowers. (Latin origin) |
Remarks: |
-
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| Specifications & Description |
Life Cycle: | Perennial |
Habitat: | Maquis, garigue, rocky wasteland. |
Frequency: | Common |
Localities in Malta: | Common plant throughout the rocky terrain in Malta and Gozo. Examples include Dingli Cliffs, Clapham Junction, Siggiewi, Hagar Qim/Mnajdra, Mellieha (Qammieh), Wardija and Selmun. Found in Gozo such as at Ta' Cenc, Hondoq, Xlendi and Dwejra. |
Plant Height: | 25-50cm. |
| May - Jul |
Poison: | Data not available |
A
small
evergreen,
densely-leaved,
multi-branched
shrub
(or
sub-shrub),
reaching
a
diameter
of
about
40-85cm
and
a
height
of
up
to
50-60cm.
Entire
plant
covered
with
shaggy,
white,
soft
hairs
(=shortly
villous);
more
dense
at
stems
and
calyx.
Stems
often
attain
a
maroon
colour
and
have
a
4-angled
cross
section.
Plant
forms
opposite
branching
growing
from
axils
of
leaves
which
later
fall
off.
Leaves
are
arranged
opposite
and
decussate
along
stem,
that
is
a
leaf-pair
is
found
at
right
angles
with
the
pair
above.
Leaves
are
lance-shaped
(young
ones
more
ovoid)
dull
green
from
both
sides
and
have
a
crenated
or
minutely
serrated
margin,
sometimes
recurved
down.
Cauline
leaves
are
sessile,
basal
leaves
shortly
stalked.
The
inflorescence
is
a
verticillaster
of
a
variable
number
of
petiolated
flowers,
usually
4-6
per
node.
Sessile
bracts
are
of
same
shape
as
leaves
but
smaller.
The
flowers
are
composed
of
an
actinomorphic,
campanulate,
toothed
calyx
and
a
1-lipped,
pale-yellow
corolla.
The
8mm
long
calyx
is
composed
of
5,
triangular
teeth
of
equal
size.
At
first
glance,
the
corolla
looks
to
be
composed
of
two
lips,
but
on
a
closer
examination,
it
is
made
up
of
a
5-lobed,
highly
modified,
singular,
lower
lip;
upper
lip
absent.
The
pair
of
lobes
close
to
the
mouth
have
a
wide
base
with
a
narrowing
tip.
They
are
curved
abruptly
upright
and
come
close
to
each
other
forming
what
looks
like
to
be
an
upper
lip.
The
narrow
tips
have
a
purple-marroon
colour.
Next
is
a
pair
of
lobes
which
are
thin,
elongated
and
decorated
by
a
deep
purple
margin.
Finally
there
is
the
5th
terminal
lobe,
which
is
the
largest,
hooded,
undecorated
pale
yellow
colour,
grooved
with
long
hairs
towards
the
throat.
The
corolla
is
15-17mm
long
and
have
a
fragrant
smell.
The
male
reproductive
organs
consist
of
4,
long,
protruding
stamens,
which
run
parallel
to
each
other
and
are
curved
down
towards
the
lip.
They
have
pale
green,
firm
filaments
and
each
holds
an
orange-peach
coloured
anther.
The
female
part
is
a
central
pistil
with
a
small
hidden
ovary
and
a
long,
pale
green
style
running
along
with
the
stamens
(also
protruding
and
curved
down)
and
terminating
with
a
minutely
bifid
(split
in
2)
stigma.
The
ovary
is
found
sheltered
at
the
base
of
the
calyx
and
when
fertilized
it
develops
into
4
brown
nutlets
which
have
a
smooth
or
slightly
reticulated
texture.
They
fall
off
with
swaying
of
the
stems
without
any
special
means
of
seed
dispersion.
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