Salvia africana-lutea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Salvia |
Species: | S. africana-lutea[1]
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Binomial name | |
Salvia africana-lutea[1] | |
Synonyms | |
Salvia aurea |
Salvia africana-lutea (beach salvia, dune salvia, golden salvia, bruin- of sandsalie, geelblomsalie) is a shrubby evergreen perennial native to South Africa.
It has numerous woody stems growing to more than 1 m (3.3 ft)in height and width, with sparse grey-green leaves. The flowers start out as a bright yellow, turning into a rusty color, with the dark rusty-colored calyx persisting long after fruiting begins.[2] The flowers are shaped like a parrot's beak and occur in pairs at the ends of branches.[3]
This species is native to coastal sand dunes and hills on the coast of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape in South Africa.[2]
Early European botanists gave the plant the species name "lutea", meaning yellow, as they believed that there were no brown flowers.[3]
S. africana-lutea was used by early European settlers to treat colds, tuberculosis, and chronic bronchitis. Traditional indigenous healers use it for respiratory ailments, influenza, gynaecological complaints, fever, headaches and digestive disorders.[4]