Rock sage facts for kids

Salvia pinguifolia, also known as rock sage, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes many well-known herbs like mint and lavender. This plant is special because of its unique leaves and where it grows.

What is Rock Sage?

Rock sage is a fascinating plant with leaves that feel a bit greasy or waxy to the touch. This special texture helps the plant survive in its dry, rocky home. Its leaves can be shaped like an egg (ovate-deltoid) or more like a long oval (oblong elliptical).

What Does Rock Sage Look Like?

The leaves of the rock sage are a key feature. They are often described as being ovate-deltoid, which means they are shaped like an egg but with a somewhat triangular base. Some leaves might also be oblong elliptical, meaning they are longer and more oval. This unique leaf texture helps the plant keep water.

Where Does Rock Sage Grow?

This plant is native to specific parts of North America. You can find it in the southern areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas in the United States. It also grows south of the border in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Rock Sage's Habitat

Rock sage loves to live on rocky slopes. It grows at elevations ranging from about 2,000 to 7,000 feet (about 610 to 2,134 meters) above sea level. These rocky, high-up places are its natural home.

What's in a Name?

The scientific name Salvia pinguifolia tells us something interesting about the plant. The word Salvia is the name for a large group of plants, including many types of sage.

Meaning of Pinguifolia

The second part of the name, pinguifolia, comes from two Latin words. Pinguis means "grease" or "fat," and folium means "leaf." So, pinguifolia literally means "greasy leaf." This name perfectly describes the slightly waxy feel of the plant's leaves.

A Look Back in Time

Did you know that rock sage used to grow in even more places than it does today? During a very cold period in Earth's history, called the Late Wisconsin glacial period, this plant had a much wider range.

Rock Sage in the Ice Age

During this ancient ice age, Salvia pinguifolia was found in places like the Waterman Mountains in southeastern Arizona. Today, it no longer grows there. This shows how plant distributions can change over thousands of years due to climate shifts.