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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Sunday - February 03, 2008

From: Romeoville, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Is there a Salvia azurea var. alba?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Is there a Salvia azurea var. alba?

ANSWER:

Apparently not. The USDA Plants Database shows, besides Salvia azurea, Salvia azurea var. azurea and Salvia azurea var. grandiflora. Salvia azurea var. grandiflora has three synonyms listed for it—Salvia azurea var. intermedia, Salvia azurea var. pitcheri, and Salvia pitcheri.

If you search the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) for "Salvia azurea", you will find Salvia azurea, Salvia azurea var. azurea and Salvia azurea var. grandiflora listed as accepted names. Salvia azurea var. intermedia, Salvia azurea var. pitcheri, and Salvia pitcheri are listed as synonyms (and therefore not accepted names) for Salvia azurea var. grandiflora.
 

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