Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Anatomy of Lavender

The 1800s were a period of intense interest in the the natural world.  As the scientific community's energetic pursuit to understand and classify living organisms took botanists and biologists to the farthest reaches of the earth, the discipline of taxonomy took shape.  Taxonomy is the science of describing, naming and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics.  Standardizing how we organize and label the living world brought us the systematic terminology we are accustomed today when discussing animals and plants and lavender...

A Botanical Lesson at Pelindaba Lavender Farm

In daily vernacular we use the word "lavender" to describe a community of plants that is wildly diverse in terms of color, flower shape, foliage color and shape, blooming time, etc.  While commonly used terms have their useful place, in the case of lavender it rather sells the breadth of its diversity short.

Have you ever considered the plant that lies beyond the name "lavender"?  Each variety of this unique community of plants has its own particular name just as each part of the plant has its own name.  The classification and anatomy of lavender is a rich trove in and of its self.

Join us out in the fields for a little botanical lesson of some of the varieties of lavender we grow.

A Botanical Lesson at Pelindaba Lavender Farm

A brief walk through the fields with garden scissors in hand yields a wealth of specimens of the genus Lavandula.  The Latin name Lavandula broadly stems from the ancient use of lavender in bathing.  Derived from the word lavare (Latin) meaning "to wash", it has been associated with the act of cleansing the body, linens and the home for millennia.  There are roughly 40 species and over 400 varieties of Lavandula - we have selected just a few to focus on.

A Botanical Lesson at Pelindaba Lavender Farm

Before we look at the specific anatomy of lavender, let's take a moment to discuss it's scientific name.  It's quite possible that on trip to the grocery store or hardware store you have seen lavender plants for sale.  Unfortunately, it's also quite possible that the labels on those plants just read "lavender".  While technically true, such generalization may not be helpful to the keen gardener.

We always recommend sourcing lavender from a reputable nursery that accurately labels its plants with their full, scientific name.  Scientific naming conventions may look intimidating, but they are quite easy to understand once you understand their structure.

How to read scientific plant names

Genus

The genus always comes first. You may see it spelled out in its entirety (Lavandula) or abbreviated with the first letter capitalized followed by a period (L.).  It is often italicized.

Species

The species name follows the genus. You will likely see it italicized and the first letter not capitalized.  If you see the species name preceded by an "x" it signifies this plant is a hybrid or cross between two different species.  For example Lavandula x intermedia is a cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.

Variety or Varietal

The name of the plant variety is always last.  You may see it in quotes and it is usually capitalized as a proper name.

How to read scientific plant names of lavender

 

The Anatomy of Lavender

As mentioned, lavender is wildly diverse in appearance.  Flower color ranges from white to pink and every shade of purple imaginable, and foliage color ranges from vibrant grass green to dusty gray.  The shape and size of the flowerheads are as unique as is their corresponding foliage shape.  

That being said, we have selected two varieties of the angustifolia and stoechas species to detail their various parts with both botanical and common namings.

The anatomy of lavender flowers

The anatomy of lavender flowers

We hope this brief botanical lesson has been helpful to you and will deepen your appreciation for the lavender in your own garden.

There are few things better then spending the day in the garden or field and talking about plants.  If you have any specific questions about lavender or growing it in your own garden, please ask away in the comments below.  We could talk about lavender all day long!

A botanical lesson about lavender

6 comments:

  1. Am I correct that lavender blooms only once a year? I have wondered if I were to cut off the spent flowers in July would it bloom again?

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    1. Yes, you are correct. Each plant blooms once a year. That being said, many stalks have two subsidiary stalks halfway to the base of the plant that bloom a little later than the main flowerhead. If you are careful when you initially harvest to avoid cutting the subsidiary stalks they will continue to bloom. This is called a second "blush" or "flush" and is about 20-30% of the first bloom.

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  2. Really enjoyed this overview. Always look forward to shopping at your Ashland outpost.i hope to tour your farm soon. Stay safe, healthy, and vertical. Rosemary Keiner

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Rosemary. We are looking forward to the day when you can visit the farm. It's truly a remarkable experience for all the senses!

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  3. This tutorial was very interesting! Thanks for publishing it. I love Levendar, no matter the color! I have visited your shop in Savannah GA and am always touting the effectiveness of your bug spray, as it really works (says me, who will get bit by the last mosquito in the state, a county away!) I am extremely allergic to bug bites and the Lavender spray smells so nice I don't mind spraying myself before walking the dog, and it is very effective. I hope to visit Savannah again soon and pay you another visit! The store is lovely and pet-friendly!

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    1. Thank you for your delightful words Katherine. We are so pleased that you find our Lavender Insect Repellant effective. That is wonderful! We look forward to seeing you again as well when next you are in Savannah. Cheers!

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