Medicinal and aromatic plants – industrial profiles

Sectional hybrids
L. x intermedia
Emeric ex Loisel. (
L. angustifolia
L. latifolia
)
(
L. hybrida
Reverchon; 
L. x hortensis
Hy)
A vigorous shrub from 60–150 cm, highly variable making delimitation difficult at times.
Leaves linear-lanceolate to spathulate, often grey tomentose. Inflorescence stalk branched, spike
usually lax and occasionally interrupted. Fertile bracts ovate-rhombic in outline but variable in
The taxonomy of the genus 
Lavandula 
L.
13
Figure 2.6 L.  angustifolia
‘Hidcote’  – cultivated at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. 
(See Color Plate I.)

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exact shape and size, bracteoles 1–4 mm long. Calyx thirteen-nerved, with rotund to elliptic
appendage. Corolla bilaterally symmetrical, variable in colour usually shades of lilac-purple to
white. Flowers from late June to July.
A natural sterile hybrid occurring in Spain, France and Italy where the two parents meet.
Commonly known as lavandin with numerous cultivars selected for oil production and horti-
cultural purposes, for example, ‘Alba’ to 100 cm white flowered, Dutch Group 80 cm pale blue-
violet flowers and grey leaves, ‘Grappenhall’ 90 cm lilac-purple flowers, green foliage, ‘Grosso’
75 cm with a profusion of dark violet-blue flowers (the most popular lavender for oil production)
(Figure 2.8), ‘Hidcote Giant’ 90 cm with stout spikes of violet-blue flowers, ‘Lullingstone
Castle’ 100 cm dark blue-violet, grey leaves, ‘ Old English’ 100 cm violet flowers, grey-green
foliage, ‘Seal’ vigorous to over 100 cm, violet-blue flowers.