White sage - Revision history

Raffi at 19:52, 7 May 2010

2010-05-07T19:52:01Z

Murali.lalitha at 12:06, 7 May 2010

2010-05-07T12:06:08Z

Envoy at 08:58, 26 July 2007

2007-07-26T08:58:12Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = White sage
| image = Salvia_apiana.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Salvia]]''
| species = '''''S. apiana'''''
| binomial = ''Salvia apiana''
| binomial_authority = Jepson
}}

'''White sage''' (''Salvia apiana''), also known as '''Sacred sage''', is an [[evergreen]] [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[shrub]] of the genus ''[[Salvia]]'', the sages. It is native to the southwestern [[United States]] and northwestern [[Mexico]], being found mainly in the [[coastal sage scrub]] habitat of [[Southern California]] and [[Baja California]], on the western edges of the [[Mojave Desert|Mojave]] and [[Sonoran desert]]s.

== Morphology ==
White sage is a sub-shrub that is less than 1 m tall. The leaves are widely lanceolate and tapered at the base. The margin is minutely toothed and rounded. The leaves are generally basal, covered with dense hairs, which gives it a white coloring, and are about 4–8 cm long. The [[inflorescence]] is a spike-like clusters with few flowers. The [[flower]]s are bilateral, about 12–22 mm in length, and are white with lavender spots and streaks. Both the [[stamen]]s and styles are exserted. The [[fruit]] form into shiny, light brown [[nutlet]]s that are 2.5–3 mm in size.

== Ecology and Reproduction ==
White sage is a common plant that requires well drained dry soil, full sun, and little water. They occur on dry slopes in [[coastal sage scrub]], [[chaparral]], and yellow-pine forests of Southern California to Baja California at less than 1500 m elevation.

[[Bumblebee]]s, [[hawk moth]]s and [[wasp]]s [[Pollination|pollinate]] the White sage, and [[hummingbird]]s also appear to like the plant.

The white sage typically flowers between May and August.

== Ethnobotany ==
[[North American Indians|Native Americans]] had several uses for this plant: seeds were ground into a [[flour]] and used for mush; leaves were used for flavoring in cooking; leaves were also eaten, smoked or used in a sweathouse as a remedy for colds; seeds were dropped into the eye and permitted to roll around under the eyelids in order to cleanse the eyes; and leaves were crushed and mixed with water to create a hair shampoo, dye and straightener.

White sage is also [[herbalism|used medicinally]]. It can be made into a tea, which decreases sweating, salivation, and mucous secretions in the sinuses, throat, and lungs. Cold tea can be a good stomach tonic, while a lukewarm tea is good for treating sore throats. The leaves can also be used as a uterine hemostatic tea for heavy menstruation; however, since it can also decrease lactation, nursing mothers are advised not to use it.

White sage is considered sacred by many Native Americans since it is used to make [[smudge stick]]s, a type of [[incense]]. White sage is believed to cleanse a space of any evil spirits that may be present. This power is said to be released from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled into a wand or stick. Today many Native American tribes still use the stems and leaves for smudging as part of purification ceremonies.

==See also==
* [[Medicinal plants of the American West]]

==References==
* [http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/white_sage.asp The Living Desert - White Sage fact sheet]
* [http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/604.htm ''Salvia apiana'']
* [http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/SalviaApiana/SalviaApianaPage.htm Photograph of White sage]
* [http://plants.nrcs.usda.gov/plantguide/doc/cs_saap2.doc USDA]
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Salvia+apiana Jepson Flora Project]

[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]
[[Category:Flora of the Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Flora of Baja California|Sage, White ]]

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
 |max_zone=11
-|image=Upload.png
+|image=Salvia apiana 2.jpg
-|image_width=240
+|image_width=200
 }}
-== Morphology ==
+===Propagation===
-[[Bumblebee]]s, [[hawk moth]]s and [[wasp]]s [[Pollination|pollinate]] the White sage, and [[hummingbird]]s also appear to like the plant.
+===Pests and diseases===
-== Ethnobotany ==
+==Varieties==
-White sage is considered sacred by many Native Americans since it is used to make [[smudge stick]]s, a type of [[incense]]. White sage is believed to cleanse a space of any evil spirits that may be present. This power is said to be released from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled into a wand or stick. Today many Native American tribes still use the stems and leaves for smudging as part of purification ceremonies.
+==Gallery==
-==See also==
+<gallery perrow=5>
-* [[Medicinal plants of the American West]]
+File:Salvia apiana 3.jpg
 ==References==
-* [http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/white_sage.asp The Living Desert - White Sage fact sheet]
+<references/>
-* [http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/604.htm ''Salvia apiana'']
+*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
-* [http://biology.csusb.edu/PlantGuideFolder/SalviaApiana/SalviaApianaPage.htm Photograph of White sage]
+<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
-* [http://plants.nrcs.usda.gov/plantguide/doc/cs_saap2.doc USDA]
+<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
-* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Salvia+apiana Jepson Flora Project]
+<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
-[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
+{{stub}}
-[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
+__NOTOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:06, 7 May 2010
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		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|familia=Lamiaceae
		+	\|genus=Salvia
		+	\|species=apiana
		+	\|common_name=Bee sage, California white sage, White sage
		+	\|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|habit=shrub
		+	\|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|Max ht box=4
		+	\|Max ht metric=ft
		+	\|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|Max wd box=3
		+	\|Max wd metric=ft
		+	\|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|lifespan=perennial
		+	\|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|exposure=sun
		+	\|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|features=flowers
		+	\|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
		+	\|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|flowers=blue, purple, white
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|min_zone=9
		+	\|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|max_zone=11
		+	\|image=Upload.png
		+	\|image_width=240
		+	}}
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen