Dear colleague,

Unfortunately, these are the best photos of the corolla I have. They were very tiny, ca. 5-8 mm long.

Thank you for your interest.

Best wishes,

Filip

Ballota species??

Dear Philip, I may assume that this species is absent in la Lista de Especies Silvestres de Canarias (2009). So, it's a tricky one! Congratulations with a new record (but I don't know what is it)

Hi Filip,

I think of a small-flowered species of Salvia, like S. hispanica?

I'm sure it is a Salvia, but not S.hispanica.

To be honest, Salvia was also my idea (and it also keys out as this in floras that cover a large geographical area, e.g. the European Garden Flora) but I fail to find an appropriate name in this genus. I guess it either is a weed (i.e. impurity in commercial bird seeds) or a spice. Thank you all for your help with the identification of this species.

Salvia hispanica is indeed much reminiscent and if it is not this it should be a close relative. It is used ethnobotanically which could explain its occurrence in Tenerife. Who can do better?? ;-)

It is in all likelihood an unusual individual of the Mexican species Salvia hispanica L (section Potiles). It is "chia" of the Maya people, a plant widely cultivated for its food seeds.(Abnormal) exaggerated growth of the floral bracts, as it is the case on the ground of the picture, can be associated with herbicides and pesticides for crops. I noticed this phenomenon in an experimental cultivation of these plants (Salvia species) I had at the National University of Colombia. This plant is naturalized in some countries of America.

As far as I know, there isn't any ethnobotanical use of Salvia hispanica here in Canary Islands.

there is a growing trend of making chía (Salvia hispanica) among runners and vegetarians