lilac sage

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lilac sage
• whorled sage
• Whorled Clary

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Covola verticillata
• Hemisphace verticillata
• Horminum verticillatum
• Sphacopsis verticillata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Salvia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range that extends across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, the species can be found within the territory of Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the landscape of Austria. These locations represent the primary areas where the plant is naturally distributed.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salvia verticillata is defined by its preference for high-altitude environments, typically thriving within an elevational range of 1500 to 1800 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to rugged and varied landscapes, occupying diverse habitats such as forests, mountainous regions, and stony places. Its ability to colonize rocky or stony terrain suggests a resilience to well-drained, potentially nutrient-poor substrates often found in montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Salvia verticillata is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or near the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable conditions. The species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salvia verticillata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent status without being a parasite or an epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it thrives in land-based environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. The plant maintains a modest stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, with an average height of approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salvia verticillata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of many temperate perennial herbs. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its leaves possess a mean surface area of 23.455 cm², which contributes to a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 149.7 cm²/g, reflecting a specific balance between leaf thickness and photosynthetic capacity.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

23.455 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

149.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salvia verticillata is characterized by a sexual process, as both self-fertilization and asexual reproduction are absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through September. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. Following fertilization, the plant employs an autochorous dispersal syndrome, where seeds are dispersed via autochory. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a minimum mass of 0.0005 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.00092 g, and a maximum mass of 0.00135 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00135 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0009206665 g

Seed mass min:

5e-04 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Salvia verticillata has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include rosmarinic acid, ANTHOCYANIN, Phenolic acid, Tannin.

rosmarinic acid

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenolic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Salvia verticillata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, hypoglycemic.

Most Reported Uses