Brandegee's sage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandegee's sage |
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Salvia brandegeei is a special plant often called Santa Rosa Island sage or Brandegee's sage. It's a type of perennial shrub, meaning it lives for many years. This plant stays green all year round and belongs to the mint family. It has a lovely smell, with pretty lavender flowers and dark green leaves.
For a long time, people thought this plant only grew on Santa Rosa Island. This island is one of the Channel Islands of California. But then, it was also found growing along the coast of Baja California. While some areas where it grows are facing changes like building and mining, the plants on Santa Rosa Island are doing well.
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What Does Brandegee's Sage Look Like?
This plant is known for its beautiful appearance. It has dark green leaves with wavy edges. Its flowers are a pale lavender color. These flowers grow in tight groups, making them look very full and showy.
Plant Parts and Shape
Brandegee's sage usually grows as a shrub. It can be taller than 1 meter (about 3 feet). Sometimes, it grows in a prostrate form, meaning it spreads out low to the ground. The plant has tiny hairs on its surface.
Its leaves are usually 2 to 6 centimeters (about 1 to 2.5 inches) long. They are shaped like long, narrow ovals. The top side of the leaves is smooth and green. The bottom side is covered with soft, white hairs. The edges of the leaves are slightly rolled under and have small, rounded teeth.
The flowers grow in clusters that are about 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide. Each flower has a violet-gray cup-like part called a calyx. This calyx is about 7 to 8 millimeters long and has long hairs. The flower's petals form a tube, which is about 7 to 8 millimeters long. The petals are pale blue to lavender. The top part of the flower's opening is about 3 to 3.5 millimeters long, and the bottom part is about 3 to 4 millimeters long.
How Was This Plant Named?
This plant was first thought to be a type of Salvia mellifera, which it looks a bit like. However, scientists later realized it was different.
The plant is named after Townshend and Mary Katharine Brandegee. They were a husband and wife team who loved studying plants. They collected many different plants across California and Baja California.
Where Does Brandegee's Sage Grow?
You can find Salvia brandegeei in two main places. One is Santa Rosa Island in California. The other is a coastal strip in Baja California.
On Santa Rosa Island, this plant is very common. It even grows so much that it becomes one of the main plants in many healthy areas. It likes to grow in the shrubland on the island.
In Baja California, it grows right along the coast. You can find it from near Ensenada down to San Quintin. This is a strip of land about 40 miles long. Here, it grows in areas with maritime succulent scrub (plants that store water) and chaparral (dense shrubs).
Protecting Brandegee's Sage
The total number of Salvia brandegeei plants isn't huge, since it only grows in these specific areas. On Santa Rosa Island, the plant population is quite healthy and spread out. In the past, too many non-native animals eating the plants was a problem, but now it's doing well there.
In Baja California, the plant faces some challenges. New buildings along the coast and mining activities can threaten its habitat. Experts at NatureServe have listed this species as "G2," which means it is considered "imperiled" or at risk. This means it's important to keep an eye on its population and protect its homes.
Growing Brandegee's Sage at Home
If you want to grow Brandegee's sage in a garden, it can reach about 4 to 5 feet tall. It can also spread out up to 7 feet wide. This plant loves lots of sunshine and dry conditions. It can grow well in both sandy and clay soils. It can even handle cold temperatures down to 0°F for a few hours.
See also
In Spanish: Salvia brandegeei para niños
