What Is Black Sage Used For

Blackness Sage

Salvia mellifera

blooming Black Sage bushes at the Rios trailhead

Rios trailhead | April 2009

Black sage (Salvia mellifera) is a dominant shrub of the coastal sage scrub, where it is a major contributor to the feature pungent aroma. It has small dark light-green, resinous leaves and numerous pale lavander flowers, which occur in whirls around the upright stalks.

Like many plants of the coastal sage scrub, black sage is seasonally dimorphic. During the rainy period, leaves are relatively large. These are replaced during the dry out summer months with smaller leaves that tend to be curled to reduce transpiration. These summer leaves can respond quickly to a summer shower, simply the lush greenish leaves of winter and spring practise not reappear until winter rains brainstorm.

Description ^{2 , 4 , eleven , 59}

Black sage is an aromatic perennial subshrub, generally less than 5 feet (ane.5 m) high. Leaves are yellow green to green, oval, to 3 inches (vii.5 cm) long and 3/four inches (1.8 cm) broad; margins take modest, rounded teeth. Leaves are opposite on the stems; leafage surfaces are conspicuously rugose. Stems are foursquare in cross section. Plants are drought-deciduous or semi-deciduous but may be evergreen in more than moist habitats.⁴

Flowers range from white to blueish- lavender; in the Reserve, they are usually pale lavender. They are bundled in dumbo whirls along a stalk that oftentimes rises above the vegetation. Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. V petals are fused at the base into a tube; the outer portions are fused into lips. 2 petals grade the upper lip, which has two rounded lobes and flares outward and up. The middle petal of the lower lip is big with two lobes; the 2 lateral petals of the lower lip appear equally smaller "ears". The way extends from the throat and is split into ii unequal branches; the lower, longer branch is curved downward. At that place are 4 stamens fused to upper portion of the blossom throat; two of these are brusk and sterile; the anthers of the other ii extend outward. Major flower time is April – July.¹

Each flower produces a fruit with ane-4 seeds. Whirls of stale fruits remain on the stem for some months after the seeds are gone.

Classification ^{44 ,59}

Blackness sage is a dicot angiosperm in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Members of this family often contain essential oils that give a strong smell, which may vary from pleasantly minty, to pungent and less pleasant. Typically, stems are foursquare and leaves arranged in opposite pairs forth the stem. Flowers are strongly bilateral, with both sepals and petals fused into two lips. Flowers are oftentimes arranged in whirls. Many of our of import culinary herbs belong to this family, including oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, mint and lavender. In that location are no poisonous plants in the mint family.³⁴

The Salvia is the largest genus in the family and contains the truthful sages. Species in the genus are distinguished by details of flower construction, especially the staminal lever mechanism that causes the stamens to pivot downward and deposit pollen on the backs of pollinators. Species often have flowers arranged in singled-out whirls. Two other sages are constitute in the Reserve: white sage (Salvia apiana) and Cleveland sage (Salvia clevlandii).

Several varieties ofDue south. melliferatake been described. Currently, none are considered valid.

Jepson eFlora Taxon Page

Ecology

Like many plants of the drought-adapted coastal sage scrub, black sage is seasonally dimorphic, producing larger leaves during the wet periods and replacing them with smaller leaves during the dry out months. The area of a summer leaf is about 20% that of a winter leafage.^vi The root system is branched and fibrous; most roots are within v inches (xiii cm) of the soil surface, only they may extend laterally twice the height of the parent plant.³⁸ This root structure allows black sage to take advantage of early winter rains.⁵

Although the abundant nectar attracts a big diverseness of pollinators, from small solitary bees and flies to butterflies and hummingbirds, the relatively narrow-necked, long tube of the black sage flower deters the larger pollinators.⁷² The pollen of black sage begins to mature before the female person style is receptive, reducing the chance of cocky-fertilization.⁷² Each fertile anther is fused at the base to a sterile one, forming an 50 shape. As an insect enters the corolla tube, it brushes confronting a shorter stamen which acts as a trigger, angle the fertile stamen down to touch on the insect's back, thereby depositing pollen for transport to another blossom.¹¹The pollen of blackness sage begins to mature earlier the female person style is receptive, reducing the run a risk of self-fertilization.⁷²

Populations of black sage are decreasing due to loss of habitat, and contest from non-native grasses which are favored by increasing fire frequency and increasing nitrogen input.^eleven The plant is likewise sensitive to air pollution from sulphur dioxide and mayhap ozone⁵ and has been recommended for utilise equally a pollution monitor.^five

Human Uses

The Kumeyaay bathed with a tea of stems and leaves every bit a treatment for flu, rheumatism and arthritis,¹⁶ and Luiseño harvested the tiny high-protein seeds for food.¹⁷ Numerous other medicinal uses have been described, including handling for ulcers and stomach inflammations, sore throats, and mucous secretions of the sinuses, throat, and lungs.³⁴

Leaves tin exist used as a seasoning; flavors tend to be stronger than those of the culinary sage (Salvia officianalis) and there is considerable variability amongst plants. Honey from blackness sage is considered one of the best.^5, ³⁴

Blackness sage is used in native establish gardens,⁷⁹ although not as often as its more spectacular relatives such as white sage (S. apiana) and Cleveland sage (S. clevelandii). Several depression-growing cultivars make good ground covers.²⁴ Blackness sage is recommended for erosion command in coastal sage scrub habitats.⁵

Interesting Facts

The origin of the mutual name, black sage, is disputed. Near sources requite one or more of three explanations: the dark leaves look black from a distance, especially during dry conditions; the stems dry dark and look black; the whirls of stale seedpods look black.^23,59 None are completely satisfying. An interesting alternative is offered past a gardener who institute her hands dyed blackness after a few hours of pruning black sage.⁷³

The Latin species name,mellifera, ways "dear bearing",²¹ referring either to the prodigious amount of nectar produced under favorable conditions or the loftier quality of black sage honey – or both.