Flowers of Israel: Wrinkle-leaved sage

Salvia lanigera, Wrinkle-leaved sage, Wooly Sage,
Hebrew: מרווה צמירה, Arabic: لسينه

Scientific name:   Salvia lanigera Poir.
Common name:   Wrinkle-leaved sage, Wooly Sage
Hebrew name:   מרווה צמירה
Arabic: name:   لسينه
Family:   Labiatae / Lamiaceae, שפתניים


Life form:   Chamaephyte, semi-shrub
Stems:   Up to 30 cm, covered with short erect hairs
Leaves:   Opposite, dissected, pinnate
Flowers:   Violet flowers in whorls of 6-8
Fruits / Pods:   Nutlets
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Shrub-steppes
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Med – Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Salvia, Latin salvere, to save, referring to the long-believed healing properties of salvia. Pliny the Elder was the first known to use the Latin name salvia.

lanigera, woolly.
The Israeli botanists Dr. Ephraim and Hanah Hareuveni pointed out that the architecture of the vertical inflorescence of this species of Salvia resembles the shape of the Menorah, in particular—the Salvia Palaestina. Therefore, they suggested that it had inspired the design of the Menorah. Moreover, based on etymology perspectives they suggested that the Hebrew word “Marva, מרווה” (Salvia) was originated from the Hebrew word “Moriah” (the Temple Mount name), reflecting the connection between this plant and the Menorah, which was situated inside the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

  • The standard author abbreviation Poir. is used to indicate Jean Louis Marie Poiret (1755 – 1834), a French clergyman, botanist and explorer.