How to identify Common sage (Salvia officinalis)
Common sage, also known as True sage, Garden sage
Common sage is characterized by its bushy, spreading growth habit, and it matures into a semi-woody perennial that stands roughly 2 feet (60 cm) tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) wide. Young stems are distinctly square in shape and evolve to a woodier texture as they age. The plant is easily recognized by its aromatic, fuzzy, textured, grayish-green leaves, which are ovate and arranged oppositely on the stem. These leaves have smooth margins and a soft, velvety feel. Come early summer, common sage produces attractive whorls of two-lipped, bluish-lavender flowers on upright spikes, which are known to attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The resulting fruit consists of small seed pods harboring tiny round seeds, which may be brown or black.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Herb
Leaf Type: Evergreen
Square stems with fuzzy texture, evolving to woodier texture as plant matures.
Oppositely arranged ovate leaves with smooth margins, velvety feel, and grayish-green color.
Whorls of two-lipped bluish-lavender flowers on upright spikes, attracting pollinators.
Fruit with schizocarp nature, containing 4 chambers with small spherical nutlets.
Leaves measuring 4 inches long, grayish-green with hairy surface and netted venation.
The leaves of common sage are opposite, simple, and oblong, typically measuring 4 inches (10 cm) long. They are grayish-green with a hairy surface covered in white fuzz. The textured surface is wrinkled with clear netted venation. Some cultivars feature serrated margins and variegation. The lanceolate to elliptic leaves have entire margins and range in size from 1 to 10 cm long and 0.25 to 5 cm wide. The undersides of the leaves are whitish and pubescent, with young leaves densely covered in soft hairs on both sides.
Common sage flowers are delicate, 1-inch (2.5 cm) long, bluish-lavender or pinkish-lavender, and have two lips. The upper lip is erect, while the lower lip is curved and 3-lobed. Whorled around upright flower spikes with persistent green bracts, these flowers emit a camphor scent. The inflorescence resembles a raceme but is composed of several cymes. These edible flowers bloom in clusters, making them a visually distinctive and aromatic feature of the plant.
The stems of common sage are initially green, transitioning to a woody texture in subsequent years. These stems are notable for their square shape and fuzzy surface, which is particularly pronounced in younger stems that are tomentose (softly hairy). The green hue persists in the early stages, while the texture and structure offer key features for identification. The stems' thickness is moderate, and they exhibit a consistent branching pattern, essential for the plant's structural integrity.
The fruit of common sage is characterized by its schizocarp nature, which is divided into 4 chambers, each containing a single nutlet. These nutlets are encased in a papery pod and have a smooth texture. They exhibit a dark brown hue and are almost spherical in shape, measuring about 2.5 mm (0.1 inches) in width. Each chamber houses a small, round seed that can vary in color from brown to black, typical characteristics that aid in the identification of the fruit.
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Scientific Classification of Common sage
