Lavender – Botanical Profile

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae Family

Distribution and Habitat

Native to the Mediterranean basin; cultivated worldwide. Prefers dry, sunny habitats and calcareous, well-drained soils.

Botanical and Morphological Description

A perennial evergreen aromatic subshrub widely cultivated for its essential oil.

  • Root: Woody root system.
  • Stem: Erect, much branched, quadrangular when young, becoming woody at the base.
  • Leaves: Opposite, linear to lanceolate, narrow, entire margins, gray-green due to dense pubescence.
  • Flowers are bilabiate (Lavandulae flos), violet to purple, arranged in terminal spike-like inflorescences, the calyx is tubular; the corolla is two-lipped with a prominent upper lobe.
  • Fruit: Schizocarp forming four nutlets.
  • Seeds: Small, dark brown.

Key Identification Features: strong characteristic aromatic scent, narrow gray-green leaves, purple spike inflorescences.

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