The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T203260A2762648
Salvia officinalis, Sage
Assessment by: Allen, D.J.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Allen, D.J. 2014. Salvia officinalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014:
e.T203260A2762648. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Lamiales
Labiatae
Taxon Name: Salvia officinalis L.
Synonym(s):
• Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl.
Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:
• Salvia officinalis ssp. lavandulifolia
Common Name(s):
• English:
• French:
• Spanish:
Sage
Sauge, Sauge Officinale
Mermasangre, Salvia, Salvia fina, Salvia Real
Taxonomic Notes:
Includes the following subspecies (Reales et al. 2004);
Salvia officinalis subsp. officinalis
Salvia officinalis subsp. gallica
Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia
Salvia officinalis subsp. oxyodon
The subspecies Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia (Vahl) Gams is considered a valid species, Salvia
lavandulifolia Vahl, by some workers (e.g., Castroviejo et al. 2010, G. Blanca pers. comm. 2014),
however we consider it here as a subspecies of Salvia officinalis L. following Reales et al. 2004.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2014
Date Assessed:
February 7, 2014
Justification:
Global and European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
The species has a very broad distribution throughout Mediterranean Europe. Although the exact native
distribution is not well understood the species is assessed as Least Concern due to its widespread
distribution, stable populations and no major threats. It is cultivated and naturalised widely.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
1
Geographic Range
Range Description:
The species has a very broad distribution throughout southern and southeastern Europe. The exact
native distribution is not well understood; considered to have originated in the Balkan Peninsula and
widely naturalised throughout much of southern Europe (e.g., locally naturalized in the Iberian
Peninsula prior to the cultivation of crops) by Castroviejo et al. (2010). However we consider here Salvia
lavandulifolia Vahl to be a synonym of Salvia officinalis, and Castroviejo et al. (2010) state Salvia
lavandulifolia to be native to Spain (primarily eastern provinces), southeastern France, and
northwestern Africa (coastal areas of Morocco and western Algeria).
Reales et al. (2004) in their review of the Salvia genus, found that records of this species from Africa
refer to the S. fruticosa/S. blancoana group, which does however overlap with Salvia officinalis in some
regions; thus the distribution of Salvia officinalis is considered to be across northern and western
Mediterranean, from the former Yugoslavia through the southern Alps to the southeastern Iberian
Peninsula.
Although it is native to the Mediterranean region it is grown commercially in gardens all over Europe
and has widely naturalised (USDA 2012, Forey 1991, Euro+Med Plantbase 2006-).
Country Occurrence:
Native: Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; France (Corsica - Introduced, France (mainland));
Greece (East Aegean Is. - Present - Origin Uncertain, Greece (mainland), Kriti - Present - Origin
Uncertain); Italy (Italy (mainland), Sardegna - Present - Origin Uncertain, Sicilia - Present - Origin
Uncertain); Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Montenegro; Serbia (Kosovo, Serbia, Serbia);
Slovenia; Spain (Baleares - Introduced, Spain (mainland))
Introduced: Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Denmark; Germany; Ireland;
Luxembourg; Malta; Moldova; Norway; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation (South European Russia);
Slovakia; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey (Turkey-in-Europe); Ukraine (Ukraine (main part)); United
Kingdom (Great Britain)
Present - origin uncertain: Portugal (Portugal (mainland))
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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Population
A common species that is relatively widespread throughout its range; the status of populations within its
natural are not known, but considered likely to be stable.
Current Population Trend: Stable
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
A perennial, evergreen shrub up to 60 cm height (Castroviejo et al. 2010). Found in a range of habitats
including dry shrubby vegetation, dry meadows, and rocky steppes.
Systems: Terrestrial
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
This is a commonly used and popular herb for cooking. The fresh leaves can be used to make tea for
relief of cold, flu and sore throats. A decoction with wine can be gargled for relief of toothache and a
mixture with rosemary is reputed to maintain, strengthen and stimulate the growth of brunette hair
(Lewis and Elvin-Lewis 2003). The leaves are well known for their anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial,
fungistatic, virustatic, astringent, eupeptic and anti-hydrotic properties. The antimicrobial properties of
the tannins have astringent properties and are an active ingredient of dental-care herbal medicinal
preparations. The extracts and essential oil have hypotensive properties, central nervous systemdepressant actions and antispasmodic activity (Baricevic et al. 2001).
Herbal preparations consist of comminuted herbal substance, dry or liquid extract, tincture, herbal tea
and liquid or semi-solid preparations for oromucosal use. The essential oil has a very variable
composition depending on the source and harvest time but consists of thujone, cineol, camphor and the
leaves tannins, diterpene bitter principles, triterpenes, steroids, flavones, and flavonoid glycosides
(European Medicine Agency 2009a,b). The essential oil from the plant is used in small doses to remove
mucous from the respiratory organs and mixed in embrocations for treating rheumatism and used
internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's
disease), profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety, depression, female sterility and menopausal
problems. Sage is furthermore used commercially to flavour baked goods, ice cream, and sweets (Plants
for a Future 2012).
Natural populations in Spain are stable and weakly exploited, scarcely collected; probably not harvested
for their essential oils for more than 20 years, when rudimentary stills were used directly in the field.
However, the economic crisis may cause a return to historical exploitation (G. Blanca pers. comm. 2014).
Threats
The are no known significant threats to this species and present-day collection from wild populations is
assumed to be negligible across its range.
Conservation Actions
There are no current conservation actions required. It is considered Rare in Slovenia and Vulnerable in
Albania. It is listed as Least Concern in Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996) and Vulnerable in
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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Switzerland (Moser et al 2002).
Credits
Assessor(s):
Allen, D.J.
Reviewer(s):
Blanca, G., Sáez Goñalons, L. & Leaman, D.J.
Contributor(s):
Stanley, C. & Khela, S.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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Bibliography
Baricevic, D., Sosa, S., Loggia, R.D., Tubaro, A., Simonovska, B., Krasna, A., and Zupancic, A. 2001. Topical
anti-inflammatory activity of Salia officinalis L. leaves: the relevance of ursolic acid. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 75: 125-132.
Castroviejo, S., Aedo, C., Lainz, M., Morales, R., Muñoz Garmendia, F., Nieto Feliner, G. and Paiva, J.
(eds). 2001. Flora Iberica. Volume 14. Real Jardín Botaníco, C.S.I.C. Servicio de Publicaciones, Madrid.
Castroviejo, S., Aedo, C., Lainz, M., Morales, R., Muñoz Garmendia, F., Nieto Feliner, G. and Paiva, J.
(eds). 2010. Flora iberica. Volume 12. Real Jardín Botaníco, C.S.I.C., Madrid.
Euro+Med Plantbase. 2006-2010. Euro+Med Plantbase - the information resource for EuroMediterranean plant diversity. Berlin Available at: http://ww2.bgbm.org/EuroPlusMed/.
European Medicine Agency. 2009a. Assessment report on Salvia officinalis L., folium and Salvia
officinalis l., aetheroleum.
European Medicine Agency. 2009b. Community herbal monograph on Salvia officinalis L., Folium .
Forey, P. 1991. Wild flowers of the British Isles and Northern Europe . Dragon's World Ltd, Limpsfield,
Surrey.
IUCN. 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 12 June 2014).
Lewis, W.H. and Elvin-Lewis, M.P.F. 2003. Medical Botany - Plants affecting human health . John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Ludwig, G. and Schnittler, M. 1996. Red List of Threatened Plants in Germany (Rote Liste gefährdeter
Pflanzen Deutschlands). Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn.
Moser, D., Gygax, A., Bäumler, B., Wyler, N. and Palese, R. 2002. Red List of the Threatened Ferns and
Flowering Plants of Switzerland (Rote Liste der gefährdeten Farn- und Blütenpflanzen der Schweiz).
Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft, Bern; Zentrum des Datenverbundnetzes der Schweizer
Flora, Chambésy; Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Chambésy.
Plants for a Future. 2012. Plants for a Future. Available at: http://www.pfaf.org/user/default.aspx.
Reales, A., Rivera, D., Palazón, J.A. and Obón, C. 2004. Numerical taxonomy study of Salvia sect. Salvia
(Labiatae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 145: 353-371.
USDA. 2012. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Beltsville, Maryland, USA Available at:
www.ars-grin.gov.
Citation
Allen, D.J. 2014. Salvia officinalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T203260A2762648.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
6
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
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Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
3. Shrubland -> 3.8. Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation
Resident
Suitable
Yes
4. Grassland -> 4.5. Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry
Resident
Suitable
No
Use and Trade
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
End Use
Local
National
International
Food - human
Yes
Yes
Yes
Medicine - human & veterinary
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other household goods
Yes
Yes
Yes
Establishing ex-situ production *
No
No
Yes
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 0
Upper elevation limit (m): 2100
Habitats and Ecology
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: No
Movement patterns: Not a Migrant
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Salvia officinalis – published in 2014.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T203260A2762648.en
8
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™