Salvia indica
Encyclopedia
Salvia indica is a species of herbaceous
perennial plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae
. It is native to a wide region of Western Asia that includes Palestine
, Iraq
, Iran
and Turkey
. It was first described by the taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is unknown why he gave it the specific epithet indica, since the plant is not from India. While Salvia indica is classified as a herbaceous
perennial, in cultivation individual plants often live no longer than two years.
of Salvia indica includes rocky limestone slopes between 350 to 5000 feet in elevation, where it flowers in April and May. The plant has an erect and stately habit
, forming a clump of rich grassy-green, ovate leaves with scalloped margins. The leaves are covered in long, soft, straight hairs. Inflorescence
s are composed of specialized flowering stems growing from the plant's center, some two to four feet high. Widely spaced whorls of four to six flowers open slowly from the inflorescence. Individual flowers are two-lipped, with the one inch upper lip a shiny bright lilac color. The stubby lower lip has a trough with purple and brown spots on a white background. The flowers stay in bloom for quite a long time, nearly one month. The plant is typically propagated by seed, with seedlings often appearing near the plant.
In the garden, the plant prefers full sun, loamy soil, and good drainage. After flowering the plants need very little moisture. It can survive temperatures down to 20 F. for brief periods.
. There is some evidence that the extracts of plant have some anti-fungal qualities. A 2005 study found that extracts from the leaves and branches of S. indica had the highest inhibition rate of various pathogenic fungal colonies such as Stemphylium and Mucor
.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
. It is native to a wide region of Western Asia that includes Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It was first described by the taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is unknown why he gave it the specific epithet indica, since the plant is not from India. While Salvia indica is classified as a herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial, in cultivation individual plants often live no longer than two years.
Description
The native habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
of Salvia indica includes rocky limestone slopes between 350 to 5000 feet in elevation, where it flowers in April and May. The plant has an erect and stately habit
Habit (biology)
Habit, when used in the context of biology, refers to the instinctive actions of animals and the natural tendencies of plants.In zoology, this term most often refers to specific behavioral characteristics, even when directly related to physiology...
, forming a clump of rich grassy-green, ovate leaves with scalloped margins. The leaves are covered in long, soft, straight hairs. Inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are composed of specialized flowering stems growing from the plant's center, some two to four feet high. Widely spaced whorls of four to six flowers open slowly from the inflorescence. Individual flowers are two-lipped, with the one inch upper lip a shiny bright lilac color. The stubby lower lip has a trough with purple and brown spots on a white background. The flowers stay in bloom for quite a long time, nearly one month. The plant is typically propagated by seed, with seedlings often appearing near the plant.
In the garden, the plant prefers full sun, loamy soil, and good drainage. After flowering the plants need very little moisture. It can survive temperatures down to 20 F. for brief periods.
Uses
Salvia indica shows a few medical qualities that are also seen in some other members of the genus SalviaSalvia
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 700-900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of several genera commonly referred to as sage. When used without modifiers, sage generally refers to Salvia officinalis ; however, it is...
. There is some evidence that the extracts of plant have some anti-fungal qualities. A 2005 study found that extracts from the leaves and branches of S. indica had the highest inhibition rate of various pathogenic fungal colonies such as Stemphylium and Mucor
Mucor
Mucor is a microbial genus of about 3000 species of moulds commonly found in soil, digestive systems, plant surfaces, and rotten vegetable matter.-Description:...
.