Black Sage, Salvia mellifera

Flowers contain forked styles (female parts) and two stamens (male parts) modified to enhance pollination by forcing pollen against pollinators who crawl inside the flower. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-11-09. © Joan Avise	Black Sage Salvia mellifera A very common shrub of Coastal Sage Scrub. Its nectar is harvested by honey bees. The shrub is a favorite nesting site for the California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica). The seeds were an important food source for native Americans who roasted and ground them into meal. Black sage sometimes forms hybrids with Purple Sage, White Sage and Chia where they coexist. Back to Lamiaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
3-9 whorls arranged along the stem; San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-11-09. © Joan Avise	Spherical seed heads remain attached to plant Caspers Wilderness Park, San Jual Capistrano, CA. © Joan Avise
Two stamens; forked style. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise	Upper leaf suface wrinkled with rounded teeth. Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-09-08. © Joan Avise
Two stamens; O'Neill Regional Park, Trabuco Cyn, Orange Co., CA. 4-11-10. © Joan Avise	Greenish bracts covered with meally powder. O'Neill Regional Park, Trabuco Cyn, Orange Co., CA. 4-11-10. © Joan Avise
Sometimes forms dense thickets, 3-4' high Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Beach., CA. 5-22-10. © Joan Avise	Seed heads. Woods End Wilderness Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 08-30-10. © Peter J. Bryant
The plant, especially the lower leaf surface, is covered with hairs (trichomes) which can be glandular, producing volatile oils that are released when the plant is rubbed, giving off a very aromatic fragrance. The hairs may serve to reduce water loss and the strong odor may serve as protection from insects and grazing animals. (Wikipedia). Lower leaf surface showing glandular hairs 10-15-11. © Joan Avise	Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff
Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff	Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff
Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff	Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff
Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff	Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff
Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff	Salvia mellifera x columbariae, Harding Truck Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 6-11-15. © Ron Vanderhoff
© Ron Vanderhoff