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{{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 ]]
| 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 ]]