Sage plant4/8/2023 The flowers are also where a defining characteristic of the genus Salvia can be found: an unusual flower structure that works like a lever to facilitate pollination. They send up long-stemmed flower spikes featuring whorls of two-lipped blossoms, most commonly purple or lavender but sometimes blue, pink, or white. In some species, especially common sage, the hairs have glands at the base that secrete volatile oils when rubbed or brushed, giving the plant that distinctive sage scent. The leaves, stems, and flowers of many species of Salvia are covered in the tiny hairs called trichomes, which are thought to help to reduce water loss. Other types of Salvia vary in color leaves may be gold, cream, red, purple, or green, and there are variegated types, as well. The leaves of common sage have a pointed, oblong shape and are silvery-green in color, covered with many tiny hairs that give the leaf a velvety appearance. Like other Lamiaceae plants, sage has square stems and simple, paired, opposite leaves. Several species develop woody stems and grow more like a shrub. Sage is a hardy, perennial herb plant that can grow to about 12 to 24 inches tall. It was considered a vitally important herb and was used to treat everything from headaches, digestive problems, and sore throats to mental disorders, asthma, and arthritis. The plant’s name reflects its claim to fame: Salvia is derived from the Latin word salvere, meaning “to save,” and officinalis comes from the word officina, which was the traditional storeroom of a monastery where herbs and medicines were kept. Probably the best-known species is Salvia officinalis, referred to as common or garden sage, and varieties of this plant are most often used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. They have been naturalized and cultivated all over the world for use as food, in medicines, as ornamental plants, and for their essential oil. Members of the mint family Lamiaceae, there are more than 700 species in the Salvia genus, which includes a huge variety of plants with different appearances, sizes, colors, and uses. Sage plants have been favorites of herbalists, healers, cooks, and gardeners for centuries.
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