Salvia candelabrum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern Spain. It is a woody-based perennial growing to , with woolly grey-green leaves that resemble those of the common sage, S. officinalis, and emit a similar scent when crushed. In summer it bears violet-blue flowers on branching stems held high above the foliage.
Diterpenes have been isolated from its green tissues.Janicsak, G., et al. (2003). Diterpenes from the aerial parts of Salvia candelabrum and their protective effects against lipid peroxidation. Planta medica. 69:12 p. 1156-1159 From the aerial parts of Salvia candelabrum have been isolated β-sitosterol, nepeticin (lup-20(29)-ene-3j,lla-diol), candelabrone (11,12,14-trihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatriene-3,7-dione), the rearranged abietane diterpenoids candesalvone A (11,12,14-trihydroxy-19(4→3)-abeo-3,8,11,13-abietatetraen-7-one) and candesalvone B (11,12,14-trihydroxy-7-oxo-3,4-seco-4(18),8,11,13-abietatetraen-3-oic acid), and large amounts of ursolic and oleanolic acids. The root bark afforded 7α-acetoxyroyleanone, 12-O-methypisiferic acid and sugol.Mendes, et al. "DITERPENOIDS FROM Salvia candelabrum". Phytochemistry, Vol 28, No 6, pp 1685-1690, 1989
This plant has ornamental value in the garden, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Etymology Salvia comes from Latin and means 'healer'Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 88, 339 and is a cognate of the word 'salve'.
Candelabrum means 'candle-tree' or 'branched like a candelabra'.
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