 |
 |
|
 |
       |
|
|
 |
 |
||
|
Plant Fact Sheet Lamiaceae Sages or Salvias have historically fascinated many cultures in large part for their numerous medicinal properties. In fact Salvia is derived from the Latin verb salvare meaning to heal or to save. Salvias have a relatively widespread geographic range with over 900 species worldwide and over half of those occurring in the Americas. There are approximately 18 sages that are native to California. Within the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas, including the high desert, the following are the local salvia species: Salvia apiana, Salvia columbariae, Salvia carduacea, Salvia eremostachya, Salvia vaseyi, Salvia mohavensis, Salvia mellifera, Salvia dorrii v.dorrii, Salvia pacyphylla.
Noteworthy Sages for the Coachella Valley: Salvia apiana (White Sage or Sacred Sage) |
||||
|
The
Cahuilla were familiar with many of these sages and utilized them as a
food source and as medicinal remedies. (For uses of Salvia apiana,
please see specific fact sheet for that species.) In particular, the Cahuilla
were very familiar with Salvia columbariae, or Chia, and spent
the months of June through September harvesting the seeds which were an
important food source for the tribe. Cahuillan reliance on Chia as a food
source is affirmed by their impressive management of the crop. The tribe
was known to practice prescribed burns in established stands of Chia in
order to ensure high yields from the plants. It was also discovered by
the tribe that Chia could be used as a poultice for infections and to
cleanse the eyes. 
