sage-leaved rock-rose

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sage-leaved Rock-rose
• sage-leaf rock-rose
• Salvia Cistus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cistus salviifolius var. macrocalyx
• Cistus salviifolius var. biflorus
• Cistus salviifolius proles arrigens
• Cistus salviifolius proles elegans
• Cistus salviifolius proles apricus
• Cistus salviifolius proles platyphyllus
• Cistus salviifolius microphyllus
• Cistus salviifolius var. undulatifolius
• Cistus salviifolius var. corbariensis
• Cistus salviifolius var. flavescens
• Cistus salviifolius var. pandoanus
• Cistus salviifolius var. fissipetalus
• Cistus arrigens
• Cistus apricus
• Cistus elegans
• Cistus fruticans
• Cistus velutinus
• Cistus microphyllus
• Cistus platyphyllus
• Cistus rhodanensis
• Cistus sideritis
• Ledonia platyphylla
• Ledonia arrigens
• Ledonia elegans
• Ledonia humilis
• Ledonia microphylla
• Ledonia fruticans
• Ledonia aprica
• Ledonia peduncularis
• Ledonia rhodanensis
• Ledonia salviifolia
• Ledonia velutina
• Cistus salviifolius var. brevipedunculatus
• Cistus salviifolius var. rierae
• Cistus salviifolius var. cymosus
• Cistus salviifolius var. schizocalyx
• Cistus salviifolius f. biflorus
• Cistus salviifolius var. occidentalis
• Cistus salviifolius var. grandifolius
• Cistus salviifolius f. brevipedunculatus
• Cistus salviifolius var. longipedunculatus
• Cistus salviifolius f. grandifolius
• Cistus salviifolius f. cymosus
• Cistus salviifolius var. vulgaris
• Cistus salviifolius f. longipedunculatus
• Ledonia peduncularis var. salviifolia
• Cistus salviifolius f. macrocalyx
• Cistus salviifolius proles fruticans
• Cistus salviifolius proles rhodanensis
• Cistus salviifolius proles velutinus
• Cistus salviifolius var. elegans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Malvales and the family Cistaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Cistus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the country of Switzerland. Its presence extends into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the Baleares islands. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the island of Corse and across the mainland of France. Finally, the plant's range reaches the southwestern coastal areas of Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cistus salviifolius is characterized by its preference for diverse landscape types, ranging from forest edges to open meadows. It is particularly well-adapted to environmental conditions found in dry, mountainous, and stony places, where it can thrive in nutrient-poor or rocky substrates. This species typically occupies an elevational range with a mean altitude of approximately 471 m AMSL, positioning it within specific montane and sub-montane ecological niches.

Elevational range mean:

471 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows: dry, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Cistus salviifolius is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a complex morphological strategy, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its growth stage and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout various seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cistus salviifolius is characterized by a shrubby growth form, functioning as a self-supporting woody plant. It is classified as a terrestrial species, existing independently without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant maintains a relatively compact stature, with a maximum height reaching approximately 1 meter. As a woody shrub, it exhibits a sturdy, self-supporting structure rather than behaving as a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cistus salviifolius is characterized by a metabolic framework centered on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and gas exchange patterns. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to catalyze the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon molecule, typically 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic route implies that the plant's stomatal conductance and photosynthetic efficiency are closely linked to environmental moisture availability and temperature, as the lack of specialized concentrating mechanisms (found in C4 or CAM plants) makes the enzyme more susceptible to photorespiration under high-heat or water-stressed conditions. Consequently, its physiological adaptations for survival in Mediterranean-type ecosystems often involve balancing the water loss incurred through transpiration with the carbon gain required for biomass production through this fundamental C3 cycle.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cistus salviifolius is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and a specialized seed dispersal mechanism. The plant enters its flowering period in May and concludes its blooming cycle in June. The reproductive output consists of dry fruits that contain very small seeds, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.001071111 g. Individual seed weights vary within a narrow range, with a minimum mass of 0.00074 g and a maximum mass of 0.0012 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the plant utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by their own mechanism rather than relying on external agents like wind or animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.0012 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001071111 g

Seed mass min:

0.00074 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cistus salviifolius has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, polyphenols.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cistus salviifolius has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cistus salviifolius has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Acne vulgaris, Candida albicans, Dermatitis, hyperglycemia.

Acne vulgaris

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Candida albicans

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Dermatitis

1. International journal of microbiology

Hyperglycemia

1. BioMed research international

Preparations

Cistus salviifolius has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, methanolic extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. International journal of microbiology

Methanolic extracts

1. International journal of microbiology