The Sage. 299 



variegated with white lines along the mid-rib and nerves. 

 Both these species, as well as the Pyrolas, are cultivated and 

 highly prized in England, and doubdess we should see them 

 often in American collections, if they were not natives of our 

 own soil. They may be cultivated with ease in shady situa- 

 tions in gravelly ground, and require frequent waterings. 



SALVIA— THE SAGE. 



Natural Order, Labiatae ; Linnsean System, Diandria, Monogynia. Generic 

 Distinctions :— Calyx, tubular, striate, two lipped, the upper lip entire or 

 three-toothed, lower lip bifid ; corolla, ringent ; the upper lip straight, or 

 falcate, lower lip spreading, three-cleft, emarginate ; stamens, two ; con- 

 nectile, transversely articulated to the filament, supporting at each end a 

 cell of the dimidiate anther ; achenia, four. 



S.ftdgens.—Le&ves, cordate ovate, crenate, woolly below. Flowers, verti- 

 cillate ; bracts, ovate, long, acuminate ; calyx, trifid ; helmet of the corolla, 

 hairy.— PI- 30. 



Salvia is from the Latin solvere, to save, in allusion to the 

 salutary properties of the genus. The species are very nume- 

 rous, and widely distributed over the world. They are all 

 herbs or somewhat shrubby plants, with leaves generally wrin- 

 kled or rough, an aromatic smell, and flowers in spikes. They 

 are all easily cultivated, and some of them are in great favor 

 as ornamental garden flowers. S. officinalis, in such common 

 use as a culinary plant, in various operations of cookery, is a 

 native of the South of Europe. It was once in great repute as 

 a sudorific and antiseptic medicine, and sage tea is still an 

 approved prescription in many womanish ailments. Several 

 other species are in use for various purposes, and all agree in 

 possessing tonic and aromatic qualities. Only seven or eight 

 species are natives of North America, of which a single one, 

 S. lyrata, with blue flowers, inhabits the Northern States. 



S.fulgens, is undoubtedly the most splendid species, and its 

 superb scarlet flowers make it very ornamental. It is a native 

 of Mexico, and has for some years been introduced into our 

 northern gardens. The stem is about four feet in height, 



