Medicinal and aromatic plants – industrial profiles

L. stoechas
L.
subsp
.
stoechas
Shrub 40–70 cm. Leaves often grey tomentose. Inflorescence stalk sessile or no longer than
length of spike. Apex topped by enlarged sterile floral bracts obovate or spathulate 1–2 (4) cm
long (Figure 2.10). Fertile bracts broadly ovate to obovate, shortly acuminate. Calyx sessile, 
thirteen-nerved the middle lobe of calyx modified into an appendage. Corolla black-purple to
mauve in colour, white variants being named var. 
leucantha
Ging. and rose red or pink flowered
variants forma 
rosea
Maire. Widespread throughout the Mediterranean basin and often a common
element of maquis and garrigue type vegetation on acid substrates.
Grown for the extraction of essential oils on a small scale mainly in Spain for use in air 
fresheners and deodorants. Widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub and sometimes naturalised.
A number of cultivars have been named including, ‘Snowman’ – white flowers and coma to
45 cm and ‘Kew Red’ – rosy pink flowers and coma to 45 cm. It is now classed as an invasive
weed in parts of Australia where its cultivation is strictly controlled. Commonly referred to as
French or Italian lavender.
Subspecies
Subsp. 
pedunculata
Miller (Samp. ex Rozeira)
Bears distinctive erect branches and long narrow lanceolate leaves. Flower stalk (peduncle) long
(10–)20–30 cm, spike usually quite short 2–3 cm, ovate in outline. Lower fertile bracts kidney
shaped, the upper fertile bracts broadly obovate. Coma large 3– 4 cm and narrowly lanceolate to
spathulate in shape. Calyx appendage
entire. Spain and Portugal on calcareous soils.
A number of cultivars have been named of which the most commonly available is ‘James
Compton’.
The taxonomy of the genus 
Lavandula 
L.
17

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Subsp. 
sampaiana
Rozeira
Flower spikes large and robust, twice as long as broad. Lower fertile bracts almost circular, the
upper fertile bracts obovate. Coma linear obovate in shape. Calyx appendage 
 
entire. Western
Spain, North and Central Portugal.
Subsp. 
lusitanica
(Chaytor) Rozeira
Flower spikes relatively small, not much longer than wide, ovate in shape. Lower fertile bracts
kidney shaped, the upper fertile bracts broadly obovate. Coma small, linear obovate in shape.
Calyx appendage
entire. Southern Spain and Portugal.
Subsp. 
luisieri
(Rozeira) Rozeira
Flower spike large and robust, twice as long as wide borne on a relatively short peduncle 
c
. 4–8 cm long. Basal fertile bracts almost circular, the upper fertile bracts diamond shaped. 
The stems appear very erect in form. The coma large, ovate-lanceolate in shape. Calyx
appendage
 
entire. South West Spain, Central and Southern Portugal.
Subsp. 
atlantica
Braun-Blanq.
A compact shrub with a robust conical spike borne on a peduncle to 
c
. 10 cm. Calyx appendage
large exceeding width of calyx tube. Basal fertile bracts almost circular, the upper bracts broadly
obovate and truncate. Coma large up to 4 cm, spathulate in shape. Calyx appendage lobed.
Morocco over 1000 m.
18
Tim Upson
Figure 2.10 L. stoechas
subsp. 
stoechas
. (See Color Plate V.)

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Subsp. 
maderensis
(Benth.) Rozeira
The peduncles are highly variable in length from 3.5 to 13 cm. Lower fertile bracts kidney
shaped. The coma small 
c
. 2 cm long and spathulate in shape. Madeira.
Subsp. 
cariensis
(Boiss.) Rozeira
Peduncles long up to 20 cm. Lower fertile bracts broadly obovate. Coma narrowly oblong in
shape. Calyx appendage lobed. Turkey (European Turkey and W. Anatolia) on acidic soils.
6.