| Salvia venulosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Salvia |
| Species: | S. venulosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Salvia venulosa | |
Salvia venulosa is a perennial plant that is native to a very small region of the Western Cordillera in Colombia. It grows at 1,500 to 2,000 m (4,900 to 6,600 ft) elevation in deeply shaded wooded gullies. S. venulosa grows less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall, with narrow ovate leaves that are 6 to 9 cm (2.4 to 3.5 in) long and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) wide, and violet on the underside. The flower is an unusual wine-red color.[1]
A 2010 phylogenetic study of Salvia divinorum and 52 other Salvia species in the subgenus Calosphace suggest that S. venulosa is the closest known relative of S. divinorum.[2] Relatively few species (out of the 600 species of Salvia occurring in Mexico and South America) were included in that study. And it is likely that another yet-to-be identified Salvia is actually more closely related to S. divinorum. There is no evidence whatsoever that S. venulosa has any uncommon alkaloids.