Salvia africana-caerulea (informal name)

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Blue Sage
• Aromatic Sage
• Blue Sage
• Purple sage
• Red Sage
• Wild Sage
• Wild Salvia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Megyathus acetabulosum
• Stiefia molucellae
• Arischrada molucellae
• Crolocos colorata
• Salvia molucellae
• Salvia tauricola
• Salvia undulata
• Salvia integerrima
• Salvia lanuginosa
• Salvia rotundifolia
• Salvia subspathulata
• Salvia colorata
• Salvia acetabulosa

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 further organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Salvia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salvia africana is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal gradient, allowing it to colonize diverse topographical landscapes. It thrives across an elevational range that begins at a low altitude of 20 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1097 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, enabling the species to adapt to varying climatic conditions, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels found between sea level and montane foothills.

Elevational range max:

1097 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

20 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Salvia africana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological positioning, it exhibits characteristics of both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, with its life form determined by the height and positioning of its persistent buds relative to the ground surface.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salvia africana is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its ecological habitat and positioning, it is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. The physical stature of the species varies in height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Salvia africana is characterized by specialized morphological adaptations designed to optimize resource acquisition and environmental resilience. A defining structural feature of its vegetative development is the leaf form, which is specifically described as obovate, a configuration that provides a broad, rounded apex tapering toward the base to maximize surface area for light interception while facilitating efficient transpiration regulation. This leaf architecture supports the plant's photosynthetic processes, allowing for robust carbon fixation within its metabolic pathways. The physiological efficiency of these obovate leaves is integral to the plant's ability to manage water potential and nutrient transport, ensuring that the structural integrity of the foliage remains intact during varying environmental stressors.

Leaf form :

obovate

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salvia africana is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and distinct seed morphology. The flowering period is quite extensive, typically commencing in June and continuing through to January. During this reproductive cycle, the plant produces inflorescences that can reach a maximum length of 0.3 meters, featuring flowers that are distinctly blue in color. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with notable variations in mass; individual seeds can weigh as little as 0.00394 g, while the maximum recorded seed mass is 0.01321 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.0075566665 g, reflecting the specific energetic investment the plant makes into its progeny.

Flower colour :

blue

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jan

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Seed mass max:

0.01321 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0075566665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00394 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Salvia africana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ACE, alpha-Amylase.

ACE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

alpha-Amylase

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Salvia africana has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include E. coli.

E. coli

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Salvia africana has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts, chloroform, n-hexane.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chloroform

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

N-hexane

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology