Herb Of The Week - Sage - Varieties

[Guest guest]

Some wonderful info about the different varieties of Sage - From

Wikipedia Encyclopedia

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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Sage

From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage

 

This article is about the sage plant; for other uses see Sage

(disambiguation)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage_(disambiguation)

 

Sage is a term used for plants of the genus Salvia. When used without

modifiers it generally refers to the common sage, but can be used with

modifiers to refer to any member of the genus. However, the ornamental

species are still most commonly referred to as Salvias. This genus

includes shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. They are grown as

herbs and for ornament.

 

The name Salvia comes from salveo, salvare = to heal.

 

Some Artemisia species are sometimes called sages, a shortened version

of sagebrush, which is a more appropriate term for them. They generally

taste vile, and have no place on the spice shelf, although many of them

are used medicinally. This misnaming has gone rather far in smudging:

smudge bundles are made with various grey-leaved species of Artemisia

and sold as " whitesage " smudges. The true whitesage is Salvia apiana,

which has a delightful scent when burned.

 

Contents

1 Medicinal uses

 

1.1 Aromatic sages

1.2 Non-aromatic sages

1.3 Chia sages

1.4 Salvia divinorum

 

2 Culinary uses

 

Medicinal uses

 

Medicinally, there are several types of Salvia:

 

*the aromatic ones (usually strongly scented leaves, and with herbal

value)

*the 'non-aromatic' (these have little herbal value, but many still have

a scent)

*Chia sages

*Salvia divinorum

 

Aromatic sages

*Salvia apiana, White sage, California white sage, a perennial at home

in the mountains of Southern California, sometimes found in the desert

of southern Arizona,

*Salvia candelabrum, a blue-flowering scented sage,

*Salvia clevelandii, Blue sage, Cleveland sage, Fragrant sage, with a

very strong scent, found either delightful or disgusting,

*Salvia fulgens, Cardinal sage, Mexican red sage, a red-flowering

perennial,

*Salvia greggii, Autumn sage, a red-flowered sage with a very strong

scent,

*Salvia lyrata, Lyre-leaved sage, Lyreleaf sage, Cancerweed, a

purple-flowering perennial,

*Salvia officinalis, common sage; this is " the " sage. There are several

varieties.

*Salvia pratensis, Meadow clary, Meadow sage, a blue-flowering species,

*Salvia sclarea, Clary (or Clary sage), a biennial sage with enormous

(for sages) flower spikes, quite showy, and quite tasty in teas,

*Salvia verticillata, Whorled clary, Lilac sage, a white- or

blue-flowering perennial with the scent of Clary.

 

The aromatic sages strengthen the lungs; they can therefore be used in

teas or tinctures to prevent coughs: 2-3 cups a day for 1-2 months,

repeat yearly. Less aromatic species of Salvia are run-of-the-mill

mint-family anti-inflammatories, which means that they can be used for

pretty much any infection or inflammation, and will give at least some

relief.

 

Salvia officinalis, as a cold tea, will stop sweating, while the same

tea, drunk hot, will produce sweating. Cold and hot teas will also

either stop or enhance milk production.

 

Salvia apiana, white sage, is a very strong general anti-inflammatory,

used as tea or tincture. The tincture has a very nice scent; it can be

used as a perfume. This species is the famous whitesage of smudge

sticks.

 

Salvia elegans (old: S. rutilans), Pineapple sage, is a tender perennial

with pineapple-scented leaves. Medicinally, this is perhaps closest to

the scented geraniums, sweet-smelling Pelargonium species.

 

Salvia miltiorrhiza, Red sage, is used medicinally in Traditional

Chinese medicine.

 

Non-aromatic sages

The non-aromatic ages are not considered medicinal. You'll find species

like

*Salvia argentea, Silver sage, usually a showy-flowered biennial, it's

named for the color of its foliage,

*Salvia azurea, Blue sage, Azure blue sage; this species has very big

bright blue flowers; it's quite showy

*Salvia coccinea, Blood sage, a scarlet-flowered tender perennial,

*Salvia farinacea, Mealycup sage, grown as an annual in temperate

climates, it will survive mild winters,

*Salvia horminum, (syn.: S. viridis), Painted sage, Clary, an annual

with showy blue, pink or white flower bracts,

*Salvia patens, a blue-flowering annual,

*Salvia splendens, Scarlet sage, a red-flowering annual,

*Salvia x superba, a purple-flowering perennial.

 

Chia sages

*Salvia arizonica, Arizona sage, Desert indigo sage, a purple-flowering

annual, native to Texas,

*Salvia carnosa, a blue-flowering annual, native to the Arizona desert,

*Salvia columbariae, Chia, Chia sage, California chia, a blue-flowering

annual, native to California desert,

*Salvia polystachya, Chia sage, Chia seed,

*Salvia potus, Chia.

 

The seeds of these species are used as bulk laxatives, much like the

seeds of Psyllium (Plantago spp.) or linseed.

 

Chia has been important in the diet of desert Indians. It is still used

for its mucilaginous qualities by Mexican natives.

 

Salvia divinorum

Salvia divinorum, Diviner's sage, Yerba de la Pastora (sometimes called

just salvia). This plant differs from all the other sages; it's a

Mexican visionary herb, which cannot be grown from seed.

 

Classification: Sages are members of the mint family, Lamiaceae.

 

Culinary uses

As an herb, sage is considered to have a slight peppery flavor. In

Western cooking, it is used for flavoring fatty meats(especially as a

marinade), cheeses, and some drinks. In Britain and Flanders, sage is

used with onion for poultry or pork stuffing and also in sauces. In

French cuisine, sage is used for cooking white meat and in vegetable

soups. Germans often use it in sausage dishes. Sage is also common in

Italian cooking. In the Balkans and the Middle East, it is used when

roasting mutton.

 

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Lamiales

Family: Lamiaceae

Genus: Salvia

 

Species

Salvia aethiopis L.

Salvia amissa Epling

Salvia apiana Jepson

Salvia argentea L.

Salvia arizonica Gray

Salvia azurea Michx.

Salvia ballotiflora Benth.

Salvia X bernardina Parish

Salvia blogdettii Chapm.

Salvia brandegeei Munz

Salvia carduacea Benth.

Salvia chapmanii Gray

Salvia clevelandii Greene

Salvia coccinea P.J. Buchoz

Salvia columbariae Benth.

Salvia davidsonii Greenm.

Salvia divinorum Epling & Jativa

Salvia dolichantha Whitehouse

Salvia dorrii Abrams

Salvia elegans

Salvia engelmannii Gray

Salvia eremostachya Jepson

Salvia farinacea Benth.

Salvia fruticosa Mill.

Salvia funerea M.E. Jones

Salvia glutinosa L.

Salvia greatae Brandeg.

Salvia greggii Gray

Salvia henryi Gray

Salvia hispanica L.

Salvia lemmonii Gray

Salvia leptophylla Benth.

Salvia leucophylla Greene

Salvia longistyla Benth.

Salvia lycioides Gray

Salvia lyrata L.

Salvia mellifera Greene

Salvia micrantha Vahl

Salvia microphylla Benth.

Salvia misella Kunth

Salvia mohavensis Greene

Salvia munzii Epling

Salvia nemorosa L.

Salvia nutans L.

Salvia occidentalis Sw.

Salvia officinalis L.

Salvia pachyphylla Epling

Salvia X palmeri Gray

Salvia parryi Gray

S. penstemonoides Kunth & Bouché

Salvia pinguifolia Woot. & Standl.

Salvia potus Epling

Salvia pratensis L.

Salvia reflexa Hornem.

Salvia regla Cav.

Salvia riparia Kunth

Salvia roemeriana Scheele

Salvia sclarea L.

Salvia serotina L.

Salvia sonomensis Greene

Salvia spathacea Greene

Salvia splendens Sellow

Salvia subincisa Benth.

Salvia summa A. Nels.

Salvia X superba Stapf

Salvia X sylvestris L.

Salvia texana Torr.

Salvia thomasiana Urban

Salvia tiliifolia Vahl

Salvia urticifolia L.

Salvia vaseyi Parish

Salvia verbenacea L.

Salvia verticillata L.

Salvia vinacea Woot. & Standl.

.... and dozens more.