Salvia atropurpurea C. Y. Wu

Only differing from the previous species in indumentum characters.

Plants perennial. Stem 1, erect, ca. 50 cm, brown, brownish villous, glabrescent toward base. Petiole of lower stem leaves longest, 12-15 cm, 5-10 mm in upper leaves; leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate, 3.5-10.5 × 2.5-9 cm, finely corrugate, adaxially densely pubescent, abaxially densely gray cobwebby-tomentose, base shallowly cordate, margin double crenate, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences densely brown villous, glandular pilose; verticillasters 2-6-flowered, remote basally, crowded apically, in terminal racemes or panicles 6-15 cm; bracts ovate, 0.6-1.5 cm × 4-10 mm. Pedicel 3-4 mm. Calyx campanulate, 1.3-1.5 cm, densely spreading villous on veins, 2-lipped to ca. 1/3 its length; upper lip broadly triangular, ca. 6 × 8.5 mm; lower lip subequal upper, teeth triangular, apex acute. Corolla dark purple, 2.5-3 cm, pilose, pilose annulate inside; tube straight, slightly dilated apically, to 1 cm wide at mouth; upper lip straight, slightly concave, ca. 7.5 × 7-7.5 mm; middle lobe of lower lip obcordate, ca. 5 × 8.5 mm. Filaments ca. 5.5 mm; connectives ca. 8 mm, arms subequal. Nutlets unknown. Fl. Jul.

Yunnan

* Grassy slopes; ca. 3400 m.

Salvia atropurpurea is a perennial plant that is native to Yunnan province in China, growing on grassy slopes at 3,400 m (11,200 ft) elevation. S. atropurpurea grows on one erect stem to 50 cm (20 in) tall. The leaves are ovate to broadly ovate, ranging in size from 3.5 to 10.5 cm (1.4 to 4.1 in) long and approximately 2.5 to 9 cm (0.98 to 3.54 in) wide.

Inflorescences are 2–6 flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes or panicles 6 to 15 cm (2.4 to 5.9 in), with a dark purple corolla that is 2.5 to 3 cm (0.98 to 1.18 in).