eu SR The American Naturalist. [July, 
Throughout the middle ages frequent notices are found of its 
commerce and cultivation. A most interesting resumé of the 
history of Saffron may be found in the Pharmacographia by 
Fluckiger and Hanbury 
Saffron is calledin France, safran ; in Germany, saframpflance ; 
in Italy, zafferano ; in Spain, azafran ;” in Greece, rokos ; in 
Egyptian, methaio,” in Arabic, koorkum szafran; in Burma, 
thauwen ; in Hindustani, sofran keysur ; in Malay, saffaron coon- 
yer ; in Persian, kerkum ; in Sanscrit, Aasmirajamma, kunkuma ; 
in Tamil, Ahoongoomapoo ; in Telegu, Ahoonkoomapoo, bubuma 8 
SAGE. Salvia officinalis. 
This is one of the most important occupants of the herb gar- 
den, being commonly used for seasoning, and also in domestic 
medicine. It has been under cultivation from a remote period, 
and is considered to be the eelisphakos of Theophrastus, the 
elelisphakon of Dioscorides, the salvia of Pliny, and its medicinal 
virtues are noted by Oribasius, and others of the early writers on 
medicine. In the middle ages it found frequent mention, as by 
Albertus Magnus in the thirteenth century, and the plant and its 
uses are noticed in nearly all of the early botanies. Although but 
one variety is now grown in our gardens, yet formerly a number 
of sorts are noted, the red, green, small, and variegated being 
named by Worlidge? in 1683. Sage was in American gardens 
in 1806* and doubtless long before, and six varieties are de- 
scribed by Burr? in 1863, all of which can perhaps be included 
among the four mentioned in 1683, and all by Mawe in 1778. 
Sage is called in France, sauge officinale, grande sauge, herbe 
. sacree ; in Germany, salbei ; in Flanders and Holland, sale ; in 
Italy, salvia ; in Spain, salvia ; in Portugal, molho ;* in Norway, 
54 McMahon. 1 
5 Burr. Field and Gard. Veg., ore 
% Vilmorin. Les. Pl. Pot., 546. 
58 Syst. Hort., uh W. Gent, 1689, pe 
Am. Gard. Kal 
