Common sage- Salvia officinalis
By:James L
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA
By:James L
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA
To many cultures, Common Sage represents wisdom, health, and immortality, and was used in many religious rituals and ceremonies, as it was believed one would gain said benefits if consumed (SymbolsSage). Because of this, it had a strong presence in ancient times and the Old World because of its healing abilities, being somewhat of a miracle plant. In ancient Rome, the plant was sought after for its abilities to heal ulcers and assist wound healing and was often eaten with food (Wisconsin). It was also believed to have been used in ancient Egypt and China. In Egypt, it was used to assist with digestion, and in China, it was used to treat colds and fevers in the form of tea (A.Vogel).
Salvia officinalis is also known as Common Sage. It is an evergreen perennial belonging to the Lamiaceae family, also referred to as the sage or mint family(Wisconsin). It hails from the Middle East and other Mediterranean areas and has spread throughout the world. Common Sage is ornamental, making it a very popular must-have in one's garden. It blooms from early summer to fall, producing slightly red and lavender blooms, and has a very particular kind of minty aroma that you can smell when you rub the leaves (Wisconsin). It attracts many pollinators like bees and butterflies and your occasional hummingbird, and if you hang around in the garden, oftentimes, you'll see these pollinators in and around the plant. But, this aroma, which may be appealing to us, acts as a repellent to deer and rodents that want to feast on the plant (North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox). With this, the plant is protecting itself and continues to flourish as a source of nutrients for pollinators.
However, Sage doesn't just provide use for many of nature's pollinators, but also for humans. Sage is renowned in the world of culinary arts for its use in cooking( Missouri). Over time, the dishes Sage is used in broadened, ranging from many types of meats like pork and turkey to stuffing and dressing. Along with its use in cooking, it is also used in treating many ailments such as inflammatory issues and oral health (NCBI). Sage has phenolic acid, which contributes to a lot of its health benefits like reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system. Sage has vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B, which helps prevent infections, and calcium, which keeps your bones and teeth strong.
Common Sage is somewhat revolutionary with the developments that have sprouted from it. It serves its purpose in nature as a source of nutrients for pollinators that are critical to the environments they live and thrive in, and that also provides for us. I admire Sage for its wide variety of uses and history, which intrigued me a lot whilst researching. It's one plant, and it proved so useful and really makes me think about how far we can get with just a plant.
Salvia officinalis is also known as Common Sage. It is an evergreen perennial belonging to the Lamiaceae family, also referred to as the sage or mint family(Wisconsin). It hails from the Middle East and other Mediterranean areas and has spread throughout the world. Common Sage is ornamental, making it a very popular must-have in one's garden. It blooms from early summer to fall, producing slightly red and lavender blooms, and has a very particular kind of minty aroma that you can smell when you rub the leaves (Wisconsin). It attracts many pollinators like bees and butterflies and your occasional hummingbird, and if you hang around in the garden, oftentimes, you'll see these pollinators in and around the plant. But, this aroma, which may be appealing to us, acts as a repellent to deer and rodents that want to feast on the plant (North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox). With this, the plant is protecting itself and continues to flourish as a source of nutrients for pollinators.
However, Sage doesn't just provide use for many of nature's pollinators, but also for humans. Sage is renowned in the world of culinary arts for its use in cooking( Missouri). Over time, the dishes Sage is used in broadened, ranging from many types of meats like pork and turkey to stuffing and dressing. Along with its use in cooking, it is also used in treating many ailments such as inflammatory issues and oral health (NCBI). Sage has phenolic acid, which contributes to a lot of its health benefits like reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system. Sage has vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B, which helps prevent infections, and calcium, which keeps your bones and teeth strong.
Common Sage is somewhat revolutionary with the developments that have sprouted from it. It serves its purpose in nature as a source of nutrients for pollinators that are critical to the environments they live and thrive in, and that also provides for us. I admire Sage for its wide variety of uses and history, which intrigued me a lot whilst researching. It's one plant, and it proved so useful and really makes me think about how far we can get with just a plant.
Bibliography
Salvia Officinalis. Salvia officinalis (Common Sage, Culinary Sage, Garden Sage, Sage) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-officinalis/
Salvia Officinalis. A.Vogel plant encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.avogel.com/plant-encyclopaedia/salvia_officinalis.php#:~:text=%20Salvia%20officinalis%20L.%20%201%20History.%20It,Mediterranean%20countries.%20It%20can%20be%20found...%20More%20
Salvia Officinalis. Missouri Botanical Garden . (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m260
Sage,Salvia Officinalis. Wisconsin Horticulture. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/sage-salvia-officinalis/
Rhys , D. (n.d.). Sage Herb - Meaning and symbolism. SymbolsSage. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://symbolsage.com/sage-herb-meaning-symbolism/#top_ankor
Ghorbani, A., & Esmaeilizadeh, M. (n.d.). Pharmacological properties of Salvia officinalis . Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5634728/
Salvia Officinalis. Salvia officinalis (Common Sage, Culinary Sage, Garden Sage, Sage) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-officinalis/
Salvia Officinalis. A.Vogel plant encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.avogel.com/plant-encyclopaedia/salvia_officinalis.php#:~:text=%20Salvia%20officinalis%20L.%20%201%20History.%20It,Mediterranean%20countries.%20It%20can%20be%20found...%20More%20
Salvia Officinalis. Missouri Botanical Garden . (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=m260
Sage,Salvia Officinalis. Wisconsin Horticulture. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/sage-salvia-officinalis/
Rhys , D. (n.d.). Sage Herb - Meaning and symbolism. SymbolsSage. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://symbolsage.com/sage-herb-meaning-symbolism/#top_ankor
Ghorbani, A., & Esmaeilizadeh, M. (n.d.). Pharmacological properties of Salvia officinalis . Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5634728/
Editor's note
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with ten students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of James's seven-week program, he had to research, write and present on a plant of his choice. He met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write his article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with ten students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of James's seven-week program, he had to research, write and present on a plant of his choice. He met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write his article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!