Botanical Name: Salvia africana
Family: Lamiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. africana
Common Names: Golden sage, Beach sage, Dune sage, Sand sage (Eng.); Bruinsalie, Sandsalie, Strandsalie, Geelblomsalie (Afr.)
Habitat: Salvia africana is native to the coast of the Cape Provinces of South Africa found on coastal dunes and in nearby rocky hills up to 600 m elevation.
Descriiption:
Salvia africana is a soft, greyish, hairy, much-branched shrub up to 2 m tall. The leaves are greenish on the upper surface, covered with grey hairs and dotted with glands on the lower surface, strongly aromatic, simple, opposite, obovate (egg-shaped but broader towards the tip) and sometimes toothed.
Flowers are produced from midwinter to midsummer (June to January) peaking in spring to early summer (Aug.-Dec.), in whorls, crowded at the tips of the stems. The corolla is two-lipped, the lips roughly equal in length; the upper lip is blue to bluish-purple or pinkish and hooded; the lower one is usually white in the centre with darker spots, and is turned down at the edge, giving the impression of a gaping mouth.
Flowers are produced from midwinter to midsummer (June to January) peaking in spring to early summer (Aug.-Dec.), in whorls, crowded at the tips of the stems. The corolla is two-lipped, the lips roughly equal in length; the upper lip is blue to bluish-purple or pinkish and hooded; the lower one is usually white in the centre with darker spots, and is turned down at the edge, giving the impression of a gaping mouth.
The style is long, slender and curved, and sticks out beyond the hooded upper lip. The stamens are strangely shaped. The filament of each stamen is attached to one side of the lower part of the corolla tube. A cross-piece that is hinged so that it can move up and down is attached at the top end of the filament. This cross-piece carries the anther at one end and a ‘pedal’ at the other.
The ‘pedal’ is in fact the other half of the anther, transformed into a structure that a visiting bee has to press on as it probes for nectar, causing the hinged anther to move down and deposit pollen on the back of the bee. The calyx is funnel-shaped, dotted with glands and covered in long, silky grey hairs, green with pinkish purple tips. It persists long after the flower has dropped and enlarges at the fruiting stage, becoming thin, light and papery by the time the seeds are mature.
The fruit consists of four 1-seeded, small, rounded nutlets that are formed at the base of the flower, inside the calyx. They remain attached at the base of the calyx after the flower drops, falling out when mature.
Cultivation:
Salvia africana is easy to grow and a rewarding garden shrub, adding texture, contrast and colour to the garden. Grow it in full sun in well-drained soil. Water well until it is established but take care not to over-water, as, like most sages, it does not like to be waterlogged. Cut back after flowering to keep it neat and vigorous, and it will bloom nearly all year round. It can be grown in low rainfall areas and is a good choice for the water-wise and fynbos garden and is a must for the herb garden. It tolerates frost (-1 to -5 o C/20 to 30 o F) and does well on the Highveld.
Propagation:
Propagate Salvia africana by seed or cuttings. Cuttings give the best results. Cuttings from new growth near the base of the plant taken in spring or early summer root very easily. The newly rooted plants respond well to regular feeding with an organic fertilizer.
Seed can be sown in autumn or spring to early summer. Use well-drained soil and keep moist. As soon as the seedlings are strong enough to handle, transfer them to a single pot. After a few more weeks they are ready for planting into the garden. The seedlings respond well to organic fertilizer and pinching the tips will encourage bushy, vigorous growth and more flowers.
Edible Uses:
The leaves are excellent herbs traditionally used by the locals as spices to be added to pasta, roasts and stew.
Medicinal Uses:
Many African salvias, including Salvia africana have long been used by the people of Africa as medicinal plants and to flavour food. A remedy made by mixing S. africana tea with Epsom salts and lemon juice was used by the early settlers in South Africa to treat stomach troubles, including colic, diarrhoea, flatulence, heartburn, gripes and indigestion.
It was also given to cows after calving to help in the expulsion of the placenta. The Khoisan people used S. africana to treat coughs, colds and women’s ailments. The leaves, mixed with those of Ballota africana (kattekruie) were also used to treat fevers and measles.
Margaret Roberts recipe for sage tea is to pour one cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of fresh leaves, allow to draw for 5 minutes, sweeten with honey and add a slice of lemon for taste. To ease a cough, including whooping cough, sip a little frequently. To treat colds, flu and chest ailments and for painful or excessive menstruation, drink half a cup four times a day.
The tea is also an excellent gargle for sore throats and night coughing. Even chewing a fresh leaf will ease a sore throat and help restore a lost voice. This tea can also be used externally as a mildly antiseptic wash. A stronger brew using one tablespoon of fresh leaves chopped into one tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of lemon juice makes a soothing cough mixture for a persistent cough: take one tablespoon every half hour until the cough eases..
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_africana
http://pza.sanbi.org/salvia-africana
