Salvia dentata flowering stem-tip with bare internodes

The soft, upper stems of Salvia dentata are round or cylindrical, unlike those of some other salvias that have angular stems.

The leaves are opposite, their axils quick to sprout new leaf pairs in the growing season, the uppermost axils yielding flowers. The leaves here have curved down to their tips sharply at an early stage, as if elongation along the back or lower surface of the midrib was retarded during its growth phase.

Developing whorls of buds are spaced on the stems, presented upon leafy bract perches at every upper node. An inflorescence may exceed 5 cm in length (Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).