Rosmarinus officinalis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rosmarinus officinalis subsp. laxiflorus
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. rigidus
• Rosmarinus ligusticus
• Rosmarinus officinalis subsp. valentinus
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. vulgaris
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. argentatus
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. nutans
• Rosmarinus flexuosus
• Rosmarinus latifolius
• Rosmarinus angustifolius
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. prostratus
• Salvia rosmarinus subsp. palaui
• Rosmarinus officinalis subvar. macrocalyx
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. flexuosus
• Salvia fasciculata
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. latifolius
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. angustissimus
• Rosmarinus palaui
• Rosmarinus officinalis proles latifolius
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. serotinus
• Salvia rosmarinus subsp. valentina
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. latifolius
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. angustifolius
• Rosmarinus prostratus
• Rosmarinus officinalis f. laxiflorus
• Rosmarinus × lavandulaceus var. trogloditarum
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. laxiflorus
• Rosmarinus laxiflorus
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. auratus
• Rosmarinus rigidus
• Rosmarinus serotinus
• Rosmarinus tenuifolius
• Rosmarinus officinalis
• Rosmarinus officinalis subsp. palaui
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. palaui
• Rosmarinus officinalis var. trogloditarum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and family Lamiaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Salvia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also found within the borders of Germany. Its range extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically inhabiting the Baleares islands. Finally, the plant is documented to grow in the Mediterranean territory of Corse.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salvia rosmarinus is characterized by a highly versatile altitudinal distribution, allowing it to occupy diverse topographical niches. It can be found at sea level, with a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL, and extends its range up to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL. The species demonstrates a preference for mid-range elevations, maintaining a mean elevational range of approximately 918 m AMSL. While specific habitat classifications are currently noted as undocumented or uncertain (?), its broad elevational capacity suggests an ability to adapt to various environmental gradients and climatic conditions found within its geographic range.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

918 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Salvia rosmarinus is characterized by its classification as a perennial, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the plant is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the majority of the photosynthetic organs are located close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or minimal soil cover during unfavorable conditions. This chamaephyte designation applies to both its primary life form categorization and its specific ecological niche, ensuring the plant's longevity and ability to endure varying environmental stresses over its multi-year lifespan.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salvia rosmarinus is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. This terrestrial species lacks any epiphytic or parasitic tendencies, maintaining an independent life cycle. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, though it maintains a mean height of approximately 1.5 m. The structural development of the plant is defined by its erect shoot orientation, providing a sturdy and upright architectural framework.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salvia rosmarinus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic approach to carbon fixation. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its vegetative structure features distinct elliptic leaf forms, which are dimensionally constrained to optimize surface area for gas exchange and light absorption. Specifically, the leaves exhibit a length ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm, while their width is relatively narrow, measuring between a minimum of 0.15 cm and a maximum of 0.3 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.15 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salvia rosmarinus is characterized by a biotic pollination process, primarily driven by insects such as bees. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in June, featuring blue flowers arranged in a pseudoraceeme inflorescence. These individual flowers range in length from 0.85 cm to 1.35 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are relatively small, measuring between 0.12 cm and 0.18 cm in width and 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm in length. The resulting seeds are minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00097875 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00046 g to a maximum of 0.0013 g. Dispersal is achieved through zoochorous mechanisms, specifically including myrmecocory (dispersal by ants), while asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

myrmecochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower length max:

1.35 cm

Flower length min:

0.85 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.18 cm

Fruit width min:

0.12 cm

Inflorescence :

pseudoraceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0013 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00097875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00046 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salvia rosmarinus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Plant cell reports
3. Scientific reports
4. Cureus
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
2. Advanced biomedical research

Seed

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Salvia rosmarinus has 367 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, carnosol, 1,8-Cineole, camphor.

Carnosic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant cell reports
3. Antioxidants & redox signaling
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Natural product research

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Antioxidants & redox signaling
5. Natural product research

carnosol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
4. Planta medica
5. Plant physiology

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Veterinarni medicina
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of economic entomology
5. European journal of pharmacology

camphor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Veterinarni medicina
4. Scientific reports
5. Journal of economic entomology

Flavonoids

1. Scientifica
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Behavioural brain research
4. PloS one
5. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria

Borneol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Current microbiology
4. Scientific reports
5. Journal of economic entomology

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Heliyon
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Iranian biomedical journal

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Scientific reports
4. Heliyon
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Experimental and therapeutic medicine
5. 3 Biotech

Activities

Salvia rosmarinus has 761 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Neuroprotective, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant cell reports
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Neoplasma
5. Scientifica

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
4. Current medicinal chemistry
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
3. Food chemistry
4. Scientific reports
5. International journal of environmental health research

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Neurological research
5. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
3. Biomolecules & therapeutics
4. Drug and chemical toxicology
5. Pharmaceutics

Antifungal

1. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
2. Scientifica
3. Natural product research
4. Ultrasonics sonochemistry
5. BMC plant biology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Human & experimental toxicology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Natural product research
5. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Drug and chemical toxicology
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Expert opinion on therapeutic patents
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Veterinary parasitology

Conditions

Salvia rosmarinus has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Acne vulgaris, COVID-19, Histomoniasis, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei.

Acne vulgaris

1. Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery

Covid-19

1. Infection and drug resistance

Histomoniasis

1. Archives of animal nutrition

Shigella flexneri

1. Journal of food protection

Shigella sonnei

1. Journal of food protection

Toxoplasma gondii infection

1. The Journal of veterinary medical science

Vibrio parahaemolyticus

1. International journal of food microbiology

Analgesic

1. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Antihypertensive

1. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Atrophy

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Salvia rosmarinus has 62 reported preparations identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, ethanolic extracts, extract, Essential oils, ROEO.

Essential oils

1. Natural product communications
2. Iranian journal of parasitology
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Cureus
5. Natural product research

Ethanolic extracts

1. International journal of microbiology
2. RSC advances
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Letters in applied microbiology

Extract

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology
4. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Essential oils

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Bioresource technology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

Roeo

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Lipids in health and disease
3. Discover oncology

Aqueous extracts

1. RSC advances
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oil

1. The Indian journal of medical research
2. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
3. Natural product research

Eo

1. Letters in applied microbiology
2. Journal of infection in developing countries

Eos

1. Future science OA
2. Current microbiology

Extracts

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology