Salvia plebeia

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow for one or two years. The stems are erect. They are 15-90 cm high. It is robust and with many branches. It has grey hairs. The leaf stalk is 4-15 mm long. The leaf blade is oval or sword shaped and 2-6 cm long by 0.8-2.5 cm wide. The edges are with rounded teeth. There are 6 flowers in a ring. The flowers are very small. The fruit is a nut about 2 mm long. It is in a hairy covering.

There are about 900 Salvia species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

In China it grows on hillsides and in wet fields between sea level and 2800 m in most provinces. It tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Middle East, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as a mustard.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Li zhi cao, Kaka-buradi, Bhu-tulasi, Sathi, Samundar sok, Kammar kas, Jinjiga

Synonyms

Lumnitzera fastigiata Roth Sprengel; Ocimum fastigiatum Roth; Ocimum virgatum Thunb.; Salvia brachiata Roxb.; Salvia minutiflora Bunge; Salvia plebeia var. latifolia E.Peter;