Salvia apiana Jeps.Lamiaceae (Mint Family)NativeWhite Sage |
June Photo
Plant Characteristics: Shrubby below, 1-2 (-3) m. tall, white with minute appressed hairs, the growth of the current year of long erect branches with lvs. crowded at base and flowering above; lf blades lance-oblong, 3-9 cm. long, obtuse, crenulate, on petioles 0.5-2 cm. long; fls. few, in lax glomerules in open thrysoid panicles 5-15 dm. long; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 mm. long; calyx 5-7 mm. long, upper lip entire or retuse, 1.5-2 mm. long, the lower 8-18 mm. long, abruptly bent at base, closing the orifice and with rounded erose, cupped middle lobe; stamens inserted in the throat, the upper sterile, the lower pair fertile with anther cells widely separate on a long filamentlike connection which exceeds the filament itself and is jointed to it, exserted; nutlets 2.5-3 mm. long.
Habitat: Common on dry benches and slopes, mostly below 5000 ft.; Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, Yellow Pine Forests; cismontane from L. Calif., to Santa Barbara Co., April-July.
Name: Latin, salveo, the verb to save, because of medicinal use. (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 535). Latin, apis, a bee and apiarius, relating to bees. Latin, ian, suffix of Latin origin meaning related to. (Jaeger 21, 123). Apiana, a bee plant.
General: Uncommon in the study area with only two mature plants known; these in Santa Ana Heights, near where the extension of Mesa Dr. would intersect the bike path. In 1996, Salvia, Mimulus, Artemisia and a number of annual wild flowers were planted in an experimental plot; the soil was spaded and to discourage weeds, a black plastic sheet used to cover the area for several months and finally the plants were planted and seeded into the soil. The shrubby plants have survived, however, the wild flowers, while pretty at the beginning, have mostly died out. Of interest, is the fact that Owl’s Clover, Castilleja exserta, one of the annuals that died out, occurs naturally in the soil adjacent to the plot and is common in the wetter years. In the past three years, native plants, including Salvia apiana, have been planted in various areas around the bay; it remains to be seen if they will survive. (my comments). The Cahuilla, Indians of the Colorado Desert, the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, used Salvia apiana in a number of ways. The seeds were gathered, parched and ground into flour for use as mush. The seeds have a distinct flavor and were often blended with other seeds and the leaves were sometimes crumbled and also added as a flavoring. Leaves of S. apiana were also used as a cure for colds; they were eaten, smoked and used in the sweathouse. The seeds were used as eye cleaners. One seed was placed in the eye and allowed to roll around, effectively cleaning the eye. The crushed leaves were mixed with water and used as a hair shampoo and dye, also as a hair straightener. A poultice of the fresh leaves was placed under the arms before retiring to eliminate body odors. When preparing for a hunt, men often used this technique so that the game would not detect the human odor. To prevent bad luck if a menstruating woman accidentally touched a man’s hunting equipment the leaves were burned and the hunting instrument passed through the smoke to cleanse it. (Bean & Saubel 136). The Paipai Indians of Baja California and the Cahuilla used white sage, Salvia apiana, as a deodorant. The pungent, aromatic smoke was used to clean both themselves and their homes. (Campbell 203).
Text Ref: Munz, Flora So Calif. 536; Hickman, Ed. 726.
Photo Ref: April-June 03 #18,20,22,24.
Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.
First Found: April 2003.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 544.
Have plant specimen.
Last edit 5/22/04.
June Photo