Such a different sage

Send

The word sage comes from the Latin word Salvia, which translates as "to be healthy." Arabs and ancient Romans knew about the healing properties of sage and used its leaves as anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and astringent. In European countries and the USA, clary and medicinal sages are cultivated as aromatic plants. They aromatize water, food and wine. In cuisines of different nations, dried and fresh sage leaves are used in national dishes.

Sage is common in warm and temperate areas of the globe. The most famous type of sage is considered to be medicinal sage. It helps with toothache and fluxes - rinsing. Sage is valued not only as a medicinal plant, but it is believed that it has magical powers - it excites the love and sympathy of lovers. In Central Europe, sage has been known since the Middle Ages, and in Northern Europe Benedictine monks grew sage in their gardens.

Now there is no country where this medicinal, spicy, aromatic and ornamental plant is not known and grown at the same time. Industrial sage plantations are located in the Caucasus, Crimea and Central Asia. Sage is perfectly pollinated. Its stamen looks like a rocker arm, in the upper part of which there is anther with pollen, and in the lower part - a sterile, spoon-shaped thimble. Stamens are movable levers.

To get nectar, the insect pokes its head into the corolla tube, pushing the spoon-shaped part inward, and the upper anther spills a portion of pollen on the back of the insect. Humans and butterflies produce pollination in American sage. In decorative gardening, the Berggarten variety, which has very beautiful gray-green leaves, is popular. The varieties Purpurascens with purple-violet leaves and the variegated varieties Crim de la Crim and Tricolor are also popular — white-yellow leaves mixed with violet.

Sage in the middle lane is grown by seedlings as an annual. All parts of sage, regardless of color, smell good. Their bitter taste and pleasant smell gives an exquisite and delicate taste to meat, especially lamb. A chicken liver cooked with sage is also considered a delicacy. Since sage has a strong smell, spices must be added to food a little. In European countries, work is underway on the selection of decorative sage. Sage has turned into leafy bushes that are very beautiful.

Most varieties of sage are red, but there are varieties of sage with pink, white, purple color. There is even a two-tone sage. Of the different varieties of sage are flower gardens, paintings that look great from June until the first frost. Sometimes in the flower beds you can find sage species that are very different from the usual sage. For example, sage is bright red - a herbaceous perennial that is cultivated as an annual. In Brazil, it grows in the wild and reaches a height of 50-70 cm.

There is a Lady in Red sage variety with bright red flowers 34-40 cm high. Sherry Blossom sage is known with 40 cm pink flowers. About 700 sage species are counted. Most types of sage contain essential oils, which are used in perfumes and in medicine. The Arabs said: "Why would a man die if sage grows in his garden."