Salvia ophiocephala

{{Short description|Species of herb}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Salvia ophiocephala.jpg

| taxon = Salvia ophiocephala

| authority = J. R. I. Wood

}}

Salvia ophiocephala is an annual herb that is endemic to Bolivia—as of 2007 there was only known to be one small colony growing in a Yungas forest valley at {{convert|1200|m|ft}} elevation. The site is close to settlements and gold-mining, and therefore the plant is considered critically endangered. The specific epithet, ophiocephala, refers to the distinctive teeth in the calyx mouth which hints at the open mouth of a striking rattlesnake. It appears to be related to Salvia personata.

S. ophiocephala is an upright, many branched herb that grows up to {{convert|75|cm|in}} high, with petiolate elliptic leaves that are {{convert|3|to|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} by {{convert|1.5|to|9|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The inflorescence of simple racemes, with as many as 12 verticillasters that are 4–6-flowered, vary in length. The {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} corolla is dirty white with blue lips, held in a calyx whose veins extend as teeth.{{cite journal|last=Wood|first=J. R. I.|year=2007|title=The Salvias (Lamiaceae) of Bolivia|journal=Kew Bulletin|publisher=Springer|volume=62|issue=2|pages=177–207|jstor=20443346}}