SALVIA LEUCANTHA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES - BIOLOGY - 2024

Salvia leucantha is a shrubby, herbaceous and aromatic species belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Known as cordoncillo, San Francisco cord, beach grass, cat's tail, sage, royal sage, Santa María or velvet, it is a native species of Mexico.

Sage is a herbaceous shrub that reaches 1.20 m in height, with elongated leaves, grayish green color, plush texture and strong aroma. The tubular-shaped flowers with woolly calyxes are grouped in cymose inflorescences of blue or lilac color, occasionally whitish.

Salvia leucantha. Source: Pekachu

Of the genus Salvia, more than 1,000 species have been identified and classified, with Mexico being the center of greatest diversity. Approximately 300 species are recognized in this region, including the Salvia leucantha species as one of the most representative.

Its flowers are a great attraction for pollinating insects, butterflies and hummingbirds, due to its pleasant nectar and abundant pollen. In addition, it is a species used as an ornamental to decorate parks and gardens thanks to its abundant flowering.

Used as a medicinal plant, it is used to relieve stomach upset, chest pain, respiratory disorders and dizziness. However, the cooking of its leaves can be abortive, so it is restricted in pregnant women.

It is a plant of easy propagation, by means of seeds or by cuttings of tender stems and roots, being a low maintenance crop. It grows on fertile, well-drained soils and in full sun exposure, it is susceptible to excess humidity and low temperatures.

General characteristics

Appearance

Sage is a short-growing, evergreen aromatic shrub that is 60-120 cm tall. The stem has a semi-woody lower part and the upper part is characterized by square stems with a pubescent texture.

Leaves

The leaves are located opposite each other and are 12 to 15 cm long by 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide. They are generally elongated with slightly parallel sides, pointed apex, evident veins, velvety appearance and dark grayish green color.

flowers

The attractive tubular-shaped flowers emerge in multiple whorls that slope slightly along the flower spike. They are usually grouped in bluish-white or purplish-white inflorescences with small lilac-colored sepals.

Flowering occurs during the fall and early winter, then late spring and early summer. The species Salvia leucantha differs from the other species of Salvia by its tomentose whitish flowers.

Detail of the Salvia leucantha flowers. Source: Cillas

Fruit

The fruit of sage is a small reddish-brown nut 2 to 3 mm long. The multiplication of this species is carried out by means of seeds or vegetatively by division of the plant.

Chemical composition

The photochemical analysis of the Salvia leucantha plant has made it possible to determine the presence of the triterpenes a-amyrin acetate, a-amyrin acetate, lupeol and g-sitosterol. As well as 3-epi-isomer, 3-epi-uvaol and leucanthol, in addition to the sterol b-sitosterol, the flavonoid isosalipurpol and the diterpenes salvifaricin, salvileucantholide and salviandulin E.

Most of these active ingredients are used in an artisanal way to relieve stomach problems, menstrual cramps, and lung discomfort. On the other hand, its unsupervised consumption can have abortifacient effects.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Tracheophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Lamiales

- Family: Lamiaceae

- Subfamily: Nepetoideae

- Tribe: Mentheae

- Genus: Salvia

- Species: Salvia leucantha Cav.

Etymology

- Salvia: the generic name derives from the Latin word "salveo" which means "heal, heal" in relation to the medicinal properties of the plant.

- leucantha: the specific epithet comes from the Greek words "leukos" and "anthos", which mean "white" and "flower", in relation to the color of their flowers.

Synonyms

- Sessé & Moc bicolor sage.

- Salvia discolor Sessé & Moc.

- S. leucantha f. iobaphes Fernald

Salvia leucantha flower spike. Source: Randy Robertson from Newbury Park, California, USA

Habitat and distribution

The Salvia leucantha species is native to the Mesoamerican region, specifically the area occupied by the Republic of Mexico. It is located in environments with a partially warm and temperate climate, at altitude levels between 1,000-2,500 meters above sea level, associated with holm oaks and xerophytic scrub.

In the high mountains of the south-central region of Mexico is where the greatest diversity of species of the genus Salvia is located. Area characterized by a temperate forest ecosystem, with a predominance of holm oaks and conifers, as well as tropical sub-deciduous, deciduous, arid and desert forests.

It is a species that develops effectively in full sun exposure, although it can thrive in the shade as long as it is not too closed. In wild conditions it tolerates occasional frosts, but is susceptible to winter conditions below 5ºC.

It grows on loamy, loose soils with a high content of organic matter and good drainage. It does not require frequent watering unless the ground dries out completely due to hot and dry environmental conditions.

Salvia leucantha flowers and leaves. Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

Properties

Medicinal

It is a plant that has various active principles that provide medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antispasmodic, antiperspirant, emmenagogue, diuretic, sedative and tocolytic. The ingestion of the decoction of the plant has the ability to alleviate different intestinal, renal and nervous system conditions.

In addition, it acts as a regulator of the menstrual cycle and menopause, controls uterine spasms and excess sweating or hyperhidrosis. Usually, the infusion is made with a twig per a liter of boiled water and consumed one cup three times a day.

In some Mexican populations, salvia is used to cure the cultural disease called "air." A tea flavored with fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) or cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is prepared, which should be consumed warm when discomfort occurs.

Topically, the higher concentration decoction is used to cure vaginal infections, gingivitis or stomatitis. The same decoction, diluted in half a liter of fresh water, can be used for washing or gargling in case of external infections.

Foot bath with sage leaves. Source: pixabay.com

Its ingestion is not recommended for prolonged periods, neither in case of pregnancy, nursing mothers or children under 7-10 years. Its habitual consumption can affect anticonvulsant or hypoglycemic treatments, otherwise it can enhance the effect of certain sedative drugs.

Ornamental

Salvia leucantha is a plant widely used in gardening, precisely during the winter months, when the flowers of other species tend to wither. This shrub with elongated branches and leaves topped by a bouquet of showy flowers is ideal for open spaces such as parks and squares.

References

1. Jesus cordon. Salvia leucantha (2019) Instituto de Ecología, AC - INECOL ®. Recovered in: inecol.mx
2. Cornejo-Tenorio, Guadalupe, & Ibarra-Manríquez, Guillermo. (2011). Diversity and distribution of the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) in Michoacán, Mexico. Mexican Journal of Biodiversity, 82 (4), 1279-1296. Recovered at: scielo.org.mx
3. Guzmán Gómez, O. (2014). Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity and chemometric studies of Salvia species from Xalapa, Veracruz and neighboring municipalities.
4. Salvia leucantha. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
5. Salvia leucantha Cav. (2017) GBIF. Global Biodiversity Information Facility.GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Recovered at: gbif.org
6. Veloza, WFC, Matulevich, J., & Castrillón, W. (2014). Triterpenes and Sterols from Salvia Leucantha (Lamiaceae) and Evaluation of their Antioxidant Capacity. Journal of the Faculty of Basic Sciences, 10 (1), 68-79.