Salvia africana
Salvia africana, commonly known as African sage, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its aromatic leaves, this plant is traditionally used to treat respiratory ailments, digestive issues, and skin inflammations. Its potent bioactive compounds make it a significant subject in ethnobotanical research and pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Salvia africana
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
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 further organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Salvia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Salvia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a fragmented geographical distribution that spans across two distinct regions. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically within the Canary Islands. Moving to the African continent, its range extends significantly into the southern portion of the landmass. Specifically, it is native to the various Cape Provinces of Southern Africa. Consequently, its presence is limited to these two widely separated maritime and terrestrial locations.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
Medicinal Uses
Salvia africana has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include E. coli.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |