Lavandula rotundifolia (common name: round leaf lavender) is a species of flowering plant of the family Lamiaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde.Oromí, Martín, Zurita & Cabrera, 2005 : Lista preliminar de especies silvestres de Cabo Verde: Hongos, Plantas y Animales Terrestres. Gobierno de Canarias, Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación Territorial, p. 47 The species was named by George Bentham in 1833. Its local name is aipo.
Description Lavandula rotundifolia is characterized by the rounded leaves for which it is named. It is a woody shrub, highly branched, reaching up to 1 metre in height. Leaves measure up to 7 cm long. Flowers are blue, or occasionally white.
Distribution and ecology Lavandula rotundifolia occurs on the islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santiago and Fogo. It favours semi-arid conditions such as escarpments and rocky soil, and can be used to stabilize slopes. It is a pioneer species on escarpments, volcanic soils and rocky crevices.
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