Salvia officinalis
Enable an agent to identify Salvia officinalis, assess a plant or population's condition, and judge suitable cultivation, conservation, or harvesting actions from recorded evidence.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to identify Salvia officinalis, assess a plant or population's condition, and judge suitable cultivation, conservation, or harvesting actions from recorded evidence.
Salvia officinalis L., commonly called common sage or garden sage, is a perennial aromatic subshrub in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to parts of the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its leaves.
It can be Identify a candidate common sage plant and request diagnostic evidence when identification remains uncertain.; Compare a planting site's conditions with documented requirements for the cultivar and local climate.; Monitor seasonal development, stress symptoms, and recovery after cultivation actions.; Select and document propagation or pruning actions appropriate to the plant's condition and intended use.; Assess whether a proposed leaf harvest has adequate identity, plant-health, and treatment-history evidence.; Refer harvested material to a separate product model while retaining its plant and sample provenance..
Distinguishing features
Check a combination of perennial woody-based growth, opposite leaves, and botanical reproductive characters; aromatic foliage alone does not establish Salvia officinalis.
Assess the typically grey-green, textured, hairy leaves against a regional botanical key while allowing for cultivar and developmental variation.
Use flowers and calyces when available to separate the plant from similar Salvia species; record an identification as provisional when the necessary characters are absent.
Explicitly distinguish common sage from plants sold as Greek sage, Spanish sage, white sage, or Russian sage using botanical identity rather than the shared word 'sage'.
Treat variegated or unusually coloured foliage as a possible cultivated variant rather than sufficient evidence for a different species.
Scope
+ Species identification, botanical naming, and uncertainty in determinations
+ Variation among cultivars, individuals, and populations within Salvia officinalis
+ Growth form, seasonal development, reproduction, and plant condition
+ Growing conditions, establishment status, and ecological interactions
+ Plant-part identity, aromatic composition, and suitability for a stated harvest purpose
- Other Salvia species and unrelated plants also called sage
- The genus Salvia and the family Lamiaceae as complete taxonomic models
- Dried culinary sage, extracts, essential oils, and formulated products as manufactured things
- Medical diagnosis, therapeutic efficacy, and treatment or dosage recommendations
- Farm businesses, cultivation equipment, and food-product certification systems
Characteristics
- Botanical determination
- confirmed Salvia officinalis | probable | unresolved | excluded Determines whether species-specific assessments and actions apply.
- Identification evidence
- Links to specimen, diagnostic photographs, identification key, determiner, and determination date Makes an identification reviewable when common names or vegetative appearance are ambiguous.
- Cultivar or accession
- Documented cultivar or accession record | unknown Explains cultivated variation and connects a plant to its propagation history.
- Plant size
- Height and canopy spread in cm, with observation date Supports comparisons of growth, available space, and recovery after pruning.
- Leaf diagnostic characters
- Observed arrangement, shape, margin, surface texture, hairiness, and colour Provides evidence for recognition while preserving variation rather than imposing one ideal leaf.
- Developmental phase
- Vegetative growth | budding | flowering | fruiting | reduced seasonal growth; phases may overlap Informs identification opportunities, propagation, and harvest timing.
- Root-zone moisture condition
- Dry | moist | persistently saturated, with observation method and duration Helps distinguish a temporary moisture observation from a persistent growing-condition problem.
- Growing-medium pH
- pH, with sampling depth and method Allows growing conditions to be compared with evidence-based requirements.
- Plant condition
- Observed vigour, wilting, discolouration, lesions, dieback, and damage extent Supports intervention without treating nonspecific symptoms as a confirmed diagnosis.
- Establishment context
- Cultivated | spontaneous occurrence | locally established population | unresolved Separates a planted individual from evidence of persistence or spread outside cultivation.
- Sampled plant part and chemical profile
- Link to a dated sample and analytical report identifying plant part, method, compounds, and reported units Prevents species identity or scent from being mistaken for a measured composition.
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions.
Sage identity and boundaries Establishes which botanical entity is being observed and separates common sage from similarly named plants.
The common name 'sage' is insufficient for assigning observations or authorizing species-dependent actions.
Botanical determination
Connects the species name to observable diagnostic evidence.
Diagnostic character combination
Identification should preserve the combination of vegetative and reproductive characters used, together with the determination's limitations.
- Which observed leaf, stem, flower, and calyx characters support identification as Salvia officinalis under the selected botanical key? definition
- Who determined the specimen, using which reference and dated photographs or voucher? provenance
Cultivars and confusable sages
Handles variation within common sage and ambiguity at its species boundary.
Name and cultivar resolution
Trade names, cultivar labels, and unusual foliage need separate evidence from the species determination.
- Does the supplied name denote Salvia officinalis, a cultivar within it, another sage species, or material of unresolved identity? boundary
- What nursery, accession, or propagation record supports the cultivar label? provenance
Growth and renewal Records common sage's woody framework, seasonal shoots, and reproductive development.
Pruning, propagation, and leaf harvest depend on the relationship between living shoots, older wood, and seasonal development.
Woody framework and leafy shoots
Distinguishes persistent structure from current leafy growth and damaged tissue.
Shoot vigour and regrowth
Assessment should locate active shoots and dieback rather than infer renewal capacity from overall plant size.
- Where are active buds, new leafy shoots, bare woody sections, and dead stems distributed on the plant? measurement
- What pruning or harvest intensity is supported by observed regrowth and guidance applicable to this plant's condition? action
Flowering and propagation
Tracks reproductive phases and the origin of replacement plants.
Seasonal reproduction and lineage
Flowering observations and propagation records should distinguish seed-derived plants from vegetatively maintained material.
- When were budding, flowering, fruit development, and seedling emergence observed at this location? measurement
- Was this plant raised from seed or vegetative material, and how was its parent or source accession documented? provenance
Site fit and plant health Relates common sage's observed performance to its growing environment and possible causes of decline.
An agent needs local evidence to distinguish unsuitable conditions, seasonal responses, and biological damage before intervening.
Root zone and exposure
Records drainage, moisture persistence, light, and temperature exposure around the plant.
Growing-condition fit
Site suitability should be assessed from measured conditions and relevant cultivation evidence, with cultivar and climate limitations retained.
- What sunlight exposure, moisture persistence, drainage behaviour, and temperature extremes occur at the planting site? measurement
- Which changes to irrigation, drainage, shelter, or placement are justified by the observed conditions and applicable cultivation guidance? action
Symptoms and causal evidence
Separates visible decline from evidence identifying its cause.
Sage decline assessment
Wilting, leaf damage, and woody dieback should remain observations until inspection or testing supports a causal explanation.
- Which tissues are affected, how quickly are symptoms changing, and how do they relate to watering, weather, pruning, or treatment events? measurement
- What inspection or diagnostic test would distinguish root injury, moisture stress, temperature damage, and a pest or pathogen? action
Population and ecological context Places an individual common sage plant within cultivation, local establishment, and observed ecological relationships.
A garden specimen, an escaped seedling, and a persistent population require different interpretations and management decisions.
Origin and establishment
Distinguishes planting history from evidence of spontaneous recruitment and persistence.
Local population status
Occurrence alone does not establish native status, naturalization, or invasive behaviour.
- Is this occurrence linked to planting, or is there evidence of repeated recruitment and survival without cultivation? provenance
- Which regional botanical authority supports the assigned native, introduced, or naturalized status? boundary
Flower visitors and neighbours
Records interactions around flowering sage without assuming their ecological effect.
Observed biotic interactions
Flower visitation, herbivory, and competition should be recorded as specific observations; visitation alone does not demonstrate pollination.
- Which organisms visit flowers or damage foliage, and at what frequency and developmental stage? measurement
- What evidence distinguishes a flower visitor from an effective pollinator of this population? boundary
Aromatic material and harvest Connects identified common sage plants to sampled or harvested material while preserving composition and use uncertainties.
Aromatic identity does not establish chemical composition, product quality, or suitability for every intended use.
Plant part and composition
Anchors aromatic or chemical observations to a specific plant part, sampling event, and method.
Sample-specific chemical evidence
Chemical findings belong to documented samples and should not be generalized to all common sage plants without supporting evidence.
- Which plant part, accession, developmental phase, and collection date does the chemical analysis represent? provenance
- Which constituents were measured, by what method, and in what units and material basis? measurement
Harvest decision and product handoff
Assesses the plant-side conditions for harvest and transfers traceability to the resulting material.
Purpose-specific harvest readiness
Harvest decisions need a stated purpose, verified identity, plant-condition evidence, and relevant treatment history; processing and consumption assessments belong to downstream models.
- For the proposed harvest purpose, what identity, plant-health, contamination, and treatment-history evidence is required before collection? action
- At what point does the harvested material become a separately tracked leaf lot, dried herb, extract, or essential oil, and which source-plant links must it retain? boundary
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- This description covers the botanical species, not a particular specimen, cultivar or commercial preparation.
- Size ranges are approximate and vary with cultivar, environment and pruning.
- Exact native distribution, cultivar nomenclature and applicable food or herbal-product standards should be checked against authoritative references; none were consulted here.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- 'Purpurascens': purple-leaved cultivar
- 'Tricolor': cultivar with green, cream and purple foliage
- 'Icterina': yellow-variegated cultivar
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Botanical nomenclature under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants - Salvia officinalis L. - The binomial identifies the species; L. is the standard botanical author abbreviation for Linnaeus.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Fresh or dried leaves used as a culinary seasoning.
- Cultivation as an ornamental and aromatic garden plant.
- Production of essential oil for fragrance and related applications.
- Traditional herbal preparations; traditional use does not establish clinical efficacy.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Mature plant height - Approximately 30-80 - cm
- Leaf length - Approximately 2-6 - cm
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Waterlogged soil can cause root deterioration and plant death.
- Poorly drained conditions increase vulnerability to winter damage.
- Concentrated essential oil can contain toxicologically significant thujone; it is not interchangeable with culinary leaves.
- Plants may become woody and sparsely leafy with age.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Native Mediterranean populations and cultivated or naturalized populations elsewhere have different geographic status.
- The common name 'sage' also denotes other Salvia species and some unrelated plants.
- Essential-oil composition varies with plant genetics, growing conditions and harvest stage.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Salvia - Salvia is the genus containing this species and many others.
- Salvia rosmarinus - Rosemary is a separate species with narrow, needle-like leaves, unlike the broader, textured leaves of common sage.
- Salvia sclarea - Clary sage is a separate species, typically with larger leaves and conspicuous flowering bracts.
- Salvia apiana - White sage is a separate species native to southwestern North America, distinguished by its whitish foliage and different floral morphology.
- Dried sage - A processed plant product, usually leaves, rather than the living organism or species.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Salvia officinalis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Which taxonomic reference and regional identification keys should govern accepted naming and separation from closely similar Salvia species?
- Which cultivar differences materially change identification, seasonal behaviour, propagation choices, or recovery after pruning?
- What locally supported ranges for light, drainage, moisture, pH, and temperature should guide cultivation assessments?
- How much do plant part, accession, season, and analytical method alter the reported aromatic composition, including constituents relevant to a proposed use?
- Which regional evidence establishes population status and which purpose-specific requirements must be checked before harvested material is accepted downstream?