Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Pic SS01 Stem of Scarlet Sage flowers
Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) grows in warm and humid climates. An ornamental perennial plant, flowering in the summer and autumn, is grown in pots, as hedges and on flower beds in India.
Pic SS02 Scarlet Sage plant in a pot
In a pot of fifteen cms (diameter), Scarlet sage plant grows to over one metre tall. The plant as it grows, branches into four to six stems, followed by sub-branches, leaves and then flowers. The stems, itself are less than one cm thick.
Pic SS03 Scarlet sage flower and leaves
Red coloured flowers [2] are contrasted with green leaves, shaped like two sides of a triangle tapering at the vertex, and the third side with two convex curved parts. The midrib, vein and veinules of the leaves are raised, and distinctly visible.
Interestingly, the top rows has a set of flowers, that are longer than the others. (Pic SS03 and 05)
Pic SS04 Cluster/s of Scarlet sage flowers
Scarlet sage flowers in tubular bell shape, grow in clusters numbering twelve to sixteen each. The size of the flowers is 2 to 3 cm and grows at the nodes of the stem in pairs. Scarlet sage flowers look like erect spikes, growing from the centre of the plant,
Pic SS05 Reflection/Scarlet sage plant
Flowers of scarlet sage are NOT edible but are reported [3] to have medicinal qualities. Leaves are used for dressing wounds, treating colds and coughs. It is stated that seeds can be used to treat digestive disorders.
[1] Author (Free lance, IES Retd, Former Senior Economic Adviser, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser UNDP, Yemen P 4) has in posts on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site), YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar), twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/), Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-parmar-841b4724) been writing/ sharing varied topics and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com. [2] They also come in white and purple colours. [3] These are reports in the web, reader may please verify before any such use. All disclaimers apply.
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