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Common Name:

General Information

Salvia plebeia is a Biennial up to 0.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Wet places, especially by paddy fields, C. and S. Japan[]. Open moist ground at elevations of 100 - 1000 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus, but this species is likely to tolerate much wetter conditions if its native habitat is anything to go by.
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a rich soil[]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Leaves[]. No more details are given.
Flowers[]. No more details are given.
The seed is used as a condiment like mustard[, ].

Medicinal

The plant is astringent, diuretic and vermifuge[]. A paste of the plant is applied to wounds between the toes caused by prolonged walking barefoot in muddy water[].
The seeds are used in the treatment of diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, menorrhagia and haemorrhoids[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer.