Salvia

Genus of Nepetoideae

Food, Plant source foods, Flowering plats (angiospermae), Mesangiosperms, Eudicots, Core eudicots, Superastierds, Asterids, Lamiids (Euasterids I), Lamiales, Lamiaceae, Nepetoideae

Consumption area(s): America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia

Note: For better understanding, please read the article on flowering plants (angiospermae) first. If you come across unfamiliar words, you can click on any highlighted term to open the glossary with definitions of key botanical terms.

Introduction

The genus Salvia belongs to the family Lamiaceae and is the largest within it, comprising nearly one thousand species. Among the most well-known species of this genus are sage (Salvia officinalis), and rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), which was previously classified as Rosmarinus officinalis.

Description of Salvia

These plants can reach heights over one meter, although the average is about 50 cm. Their habit varies, being herbaceous annuals or perennials, but in some cases shrub-like. In the Euro-Mediterranean region, the most common life form is perennial herbs with buds surviving at soil level, protected by litter or snow, and with an erect flowering stem often lacking leaves. Many species are aromatic or have a sticky texture.

The root system is usually fibrous, though in some cases it develops into thick roots with multiple rhizomatous branches. The stem may be highly branched o not, occasionally woody at the base, and shows the typical quadrangular cross-section caused by collenchyma at the four corners.

The leaves are mostly cauline, arranged in opposite pairs with each whorl rotated 90° from the one below. The blade can be entire, toothed, lobed, or pinnatifid/pinnatisect, while spiny leaves are rare. Their color ranges from gray-green to green, and they are rich in essential oils.

The inflorescences can be axillary or terminal, typically paniculate, spicate, or thyrsoid, and consist of verticillasters with an often asymmetrical arrangement, characteristic of the Lamiaceae. The lower whorls may be enclosed by bracts, which are sometimes colored. Bracteoles may or may not be present.

The flowers are hermaphroditic, zygomorphic, and pentamerous, showing the usual four whorls of angiosperms: calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium. The calyx, formed by 5 united sepals, can be cylindrical to campanulate, with bilabiate or nearly actinomorphic openings. The corolla is strongly bilabiate, with the upper lip hood-shaped or flat, and the lower lip three-lobed with a larger central lobe. Colors range from violet and pink to yellow, purple, red, or whitish.

The androecium consists of two fertile stamens, with filaments held close to the upper part of the corolla. The anthers are lever-like, an adaptation promoting cross-pollination. Pollen grains are tricolpate or hexacolpate. The gynoecium has 2 carpels but divided into four chambers, each with a single ovule. The style is gynobasic, filiform, and usually extends beyond the stamens; the stigma is bifid. A nectary disc surrounds the ovary, particularly well-developed in front, secreting abundant nectar.

The fruit is a schizocarp, dividing into four small nutlets that are usually ovoid or trigonous. The seeds, dark brown and without endosperm, are extremely small, with over 200 seeds per gram.

Pollination is mainly carried out by flies, bees, and wasps, more rarely by butterflies or birds. Fertilization occurs through this pollination process. Seed dispersal is mainly by wind, with seeds transported short distances before being secondarily spread by ants.

Classification of Salvia

This genus is further divided into several species. Among them are:

• Chia
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Wild Chia