Salvia tiliifolia
Encyclopedia
Salvia tiliifolia, commonly known as Lindenleaf Sage, or Tarahumara
chia, is an herbaceous Lamiaceae
annual that grows up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall with a wide distribution.
The plant is a native of Central America
and has spread in many countries, growing wild in cultivated fields. First described as Salvia tiliaefolia by the botanist Martin Henrichsen Vahl
in 1794, Salvia tiliifolia has become naturalised in Mexico
, the United States
, Ethiopia
(1980s), South Africa
(1943) and is present in Australia
. Its foothold in Ethiopia resulted from its presence in grain distributed in a humanitarian aid
program following prolonged droughts, after which the species spread rapidly, being strongly aromatic and eschewed by grazing and browsing animals.
Leaves are broadly ovate
and petiolate, slightly pubescent, veins deeply recessed on the upper surface and exserted on the lower, with the margins finely and regularly crenate, bearing a strong resemblance to those of the Tilia
or Linden tree. The inflorescence can be simple or paniculate with a hispid, ribbed calyx. Seeds are small and black.
Tarahumara
The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability...
chia, is an herbaceous Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
annual that grows up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall with a wide distribution.
The plant is a native of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and has spread in many countries, growing wild in cultivated fields. First described as Salvia tiliaefolia by the botanist Martin Henrichsen Vahl
Martin Vahl (botanist)
Martin Henrichsen Vahl was a Danish-Norwegian botanist and zoologist.He studied botany in Copenhagen and in Uppsala under Carolus Linnaeus. He edited Flora Danica fasc. XVI-XXI , Symbolæ Botanicæ I-III , Eclogæ Americanæ I-IV and Enumeratio Plantarum I-II...
in 1794, Salvia tiliifolia has become naturalised in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
(1980s), South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1943) and is present in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its foothold in Ethiopia resulted from its presence in grain distributed in a humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
program following prolonged droughts, after which the species spread rapidly, being strongly aromatic and eschewed by grazing and browsing animals.
Leaves are broadly ovate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
and petiolate, slightly pubescent, veins deeply recessed on the upper surface and exserted on the lower, with the margins finely and regularly crenate, bearing a strong resemblance to those of the Tilia
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
or Linden tree. The inflorescence can be simple or paniculate with a hispid, ribbed calyx. Seeds are small and black.