Common Names: Tropical sage, River sage, Blue creeping sage
This plant of tropical American origin grows to a height of about 2 feet and is generally considered as an annual. Stems are ribbed and found rectangular in shape. All parts of the plant are sticky by nature. The aromatic leaves are arranged in opposite; broadly ovate in shape (4-6.5 cm) and are of dull green colour and are hispid on both sides. Margins are serrate. Leaf stock is covered by the leaf lamella. Inflorescence is terminal and flowers are bunched at intervals on the long flowering stock which extends to nearly 15 cm. Calyx is bell shaped (1.5-2 mm), deeply bilobed, and 10-12 veined, with numerous gland dotted hairs. Flowers are blue in colour (7-7.5 mm), white towards the base. Stamens are two in number, style 5 mm and stigma is bilobed. The fruit is in the form of a mericap of about 1.5 mm. The plant was reported from Southern Western Ghats in 2015 (Kerala) and Tamilnadu (Dindigul district) in 2016. This plant was photographed from Annaikatti, Palakkad district, Kerala. Creeping sage has established itself in Anaikatti hills and large clumps of this plant are commonly seen in shaded road sides and in agro-plantations.
