White sage (Salvia apiana)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Salvia apiana Jepson
Common name(s):	White sage

Map showing the present distribution of this weed.

Habitat:

White sage ranges from Santa Barbara County, California south to the middle of Baja California and east to the western edge of the Colorado desert and is an important component of inland and coastal sage scrub vegetation, with peak abundance in Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties, California. It is found on dry slopes and benches in many plant communities below 1500 m (occasionally higher), including chaparral, coastal sage scrub, yellow-pine forest, and the upper edges of desert scrub….Plants often thrive in droughty soils and in habitats with high summer temperatures. Westman reports occurrence on coarse to loamy soils derived from sandstone, conglomerate and sandstone, shale, granitic/dioritic rocks, and volcanic rocks. In western Riverside County, plants also occur on serpentine outcrops (author’s observation). (US Forest Service 2003)

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Forestry; horticulture perennial

Ecological Vegetation Divisions
Heathland; forby forest; high altitude shrubland/woodland; granitic hillslopes; rocky outcrop shrubland; western plains woodland; alluvial plains grassland; semi-arid woodland; alluvial plains woodland; ironbark/box; riverine woodland/forest; hummock-grass mallee; lowan mallee

Colours indicate possibility of Salvia apiana infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distribution of salvia apiana

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) Low nuisance value. Impedes individual access; unable to walk to waterways.	ML	MH
2. Reduce tourism?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) Minor effects to aesthetics and recreational uses (ie. aware but not bothered or activity inhibited).	ML	MH
3. Injurious to people?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) No effect, no prickles, no injuries.	L	MH
4. Damage to cultural sites?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) Moderate visual effect.	ML	MH
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Salvia apiana requires well-drained, fairly dry soils and full sun. Excessive watering of white sage, especially during summer months, is likely to kill the plant. (USDA 2003) Unlikely to grow near water Little or negligible affect on water flow.	L	MH
6. Impact water quality?	Salvia apiana requires well-drained, fairly dry soils and full sun. Excessive watering of white sage, especially during summer months, is likely to kill the plant. (USDA 2003) No noticeable effect on dissolved 0₂or light levels.	L	MH
7. Increase soil erosion?	White sage is particularly good for stabilising or restoring disturbed or degraded areas. (USDA 2003) Low probability of large scale soil movement; or decreases the probability of soil erosion	L	MH
8. Reduce biomass?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) Direct replacement of biomass by invader.	ML	MH
9. Change fire regime?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations that has highly aromatic, 3 to 9 cm long, whitish to pale grey-green leaves that persist throughout the year (US Forest Services 2003) Small or negligible effect on fire risk.	L	MH
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	EVC = Riparian Shrubland (V); CMA = North East; Bioregion = Highlands-Northern fall; VH CLIMATE potential. The deterioration of old Salvia stands, apparently by auto-intoxication, suggests that allelopathy could be a significant factor in plant succession in many kinds of vegetation. (Muller 1966) Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata/layer (eg. ground cover, forbs, shrubs & trees).	ML	MH
(b) medium value EVC	EVC = Rocky Outcrop Shrubland/Rocky Outcrop Heathland (R); CMA = North East; Bioregion = Highlands-Northern Fall; VH CLIMATE potential. The deterioration of old Salvia stands, apparently by auto-intoxication, suggests that allelopathy could be a significant factor in plant succession in many kinds of vegetation. (Muller 1966) Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata/layer (eg. ground cover, forbs, shrubs & trees).	ML	MH
(c) low value EVC	EVC = Heathy Dry Forest (LC); CMA = North East; Bioregion = Victorian Riverina; VH CLIMATE potential. The deterioration of old Salvia stands, apparently by auto-intoxication, suggests that allelopathy could be a significant factor in plant succession in many kinds of vegetation. (Muller 1966) Minor displacement of some dominant or indicator spp. within any one strata/layer (eg. ground cover, forbs, shrubs & trees).	ML	MH
11. Impact on structure?	The deterioration of old Salvia stands, apparently by auto-intoxication, suggests that allelopathy could be a significant factor in plant succession in many kinds of vegetation. (Muller 1966) Minor effect on 20-60% of the floral strata.	ML	MH
12. Effect on threatened flora?	No information found	MH	M
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) No threatened fauna affected due to fauna not co-existing within infested area or strata.	L	MH
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) No fauna affected due to fauna not co-existing within weed area or strata.	L	MH
15. Benefits fauna?	White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) Provides some assistance in either food or shelter to desirable species.	MH	MH
16. Injurious to fauna?	White sage is a perennial sub-shrub less than 1 m tall. Leaves are generally 4-8 cm long, lanceolate, with a tapered base and minute teeth. The leaves are simple, with dense hairs and a distinctive fragrance. (USDA 2003) No effect.	L	MH
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) Supplies food for > 1 major pest spp at crucial times of the year (eg. heavy berry load or continual food throughout the year).	H	MH
18. Provides harbour?	White sage is a perennial sub-shrub less than 1 m tall. Leaves are generally 4-8 cm long, lanceolate, with a tapered base and minute teeth. The leaves are simple, with dense hairs and a distinctive fragrance. (USDA 2003) Capacity to harbour rabbits or foxes at low densities or as overnight cover.	MH	MH
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	No information found	M	L
20. Impact quality?	No information found	M	L
21. Affect land value?	No information found	M	L
22. Change land use?	No information found	M	L
23. Increase harvest costs?	No information found	M	L
24. Disease host/vector?	No information found	M	L

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	Other heat stimulated species include Malacothamnus fasciculatus and Salvia apiana (Table 1). In the first growing season after fire, seedling populations are high, derived from the previously dormant soil seed bank. After this 1st year pulse, seedling recruitment is rare until the next fire. (Keeley 1987) Requires unseasonal or uncommon natural events for germination (eg. flooding, fire).	ML	H
2. Establishment requirements?	Seeds may respond to light, so plant seeds at the soil surface or plant 1/8" to 1/4" in a well-drained soil mix. (USDA 2003) Seedlings emerge in the cool wet season in late winter to early spring and can take 2 years or more to reach maturity (US Forest Services 2003) Requires more specific requirements to establish (eg. open space or bare ground with access to light and direct rainfall).	ML	MH
3. How much disturbance is required?	Seeds were planted from wild plants. A Diegueño woman reported her people always cleared a small spot near their dwelling to plant seeds of plants with greens, seeds, or root…. Plants will mildew if they experience excessive humidity or too much shade. (USDA 2003) Establishes in highly disturbed natural ecosystems (eg. roadsides, wildlife corridors, or areas which have a greater impact by humans such as tourist areas or campsites)	ML	MH
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	White sage is a rounded, 1 to 2.5 m tall shrub of low elevations (US Forest Services 2003) Other.	L	MH
5. Allelopathic properties?	The deterioration of old Salvia stands, apparently by auto-intoxication, suggests that allelopathy could be a significant factor in plant succession in many kinds of vegetation. (Muller 1966) Allelopathic properties seriously affecting some plants.	MH	MH
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	In the cage removal experiment, no S. apiana and few E. fasciculatum seedlings suffered mortality from vertebrate herbivory in either gaps or under vegetation (drying was the predominant cause of mortality) DeSimone and Zedler 1999) White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds…. As the plants grow older, they are fairly resistant to herbivores. (USDA 2003) Consumed but non-preferred or consumed but recovers quickly; capable of flowering /seed production under moderate herbivory pressure	MH	MH
7. Normal growth rate?	Salvia apiana grows rapidly, so it is usually ready to out-plant in 6 months to a year in southern California (warmer climates). (USDA 2003) Moderately rapid growth that will equal competitive species of the same life form.	MH	MH
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Following fire, this shrub frequently sprouts from distinct basal burls, but year-old seedlings are killed by fire…..Plants are notably drought tolerant even though roots are thought to be less than 1.5 m deep (US Forest Services 2003) Salvia apiana requires well-drained, fairly dry soils and full sun. Excessive watering of white sage, especially during summer months, is likely to kill the plant…. Plants will mildew if they experience excessive humidity or too much shade. (USDA 2003) Highly tolerant of at least two of drought, frost, fire, waterlogging, and salinity, and may be tolerant of another. Susceptible to at least one.	MH	MH
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Salvia apiana propagates more easily from seed than from cuttings. Plant seeds in flats in an appropriate planting soil. (USDA 2003) Sexual (either cross or self-pollination).	L	MH
10. Number of propagules produced?	No information found	M	L
11. Propagule longevity?	No information found	M	L
12. Reproductive period?	White sage is a perennial sub-shrub less than 1 m tall. (USDA 2003) Mature plant produces viable propagules for 3–10 years.	MH	MH
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Seedlings emerge in the cool wet season in late winter to early spring and can take 2 years or more to reach maturity, depending on rain patterns and growing conditions. (US Forest Services 2003) Produces propagules between 1-2 years after germination, or vegetative propagules become separate individuals between 1-2 years.	MH	MH
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	The small nutlets fall from the dried calyx during mid to late summer but are secondarily dispersed by harvester ants and seed caching rodents. Seed traps revealed that seeds dispersed up to 3 m away (US Forest Services 2003) Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) bird dispersed seeds, or has edible fruit that is readily eaten by highly mobile animals.	H	MH
15. How far do they disperse?	White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse, and quail eat the seeds. (USDA 2003) Very likely that at least one propagule will disperse greater one kilometre.	H	MH

References

DeSimone S A. And Zedler P H (1999) Shrub seedling recruitment in unburnt Californian coastal sage scrub and adjacent grassland. Ecology, 80(6), 1999, pp. 2018–2032

Keeley J E. (1987) Role of Fire in Seed Germination of Woody Taxa in California Chaparral. Ecology, Volume 68, Issue 2 (Apr., 1987), pp 434-443.

Muller C H. (1966) The role of chemical inhibition (allelopathy) in vegetational composition. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club VOL. 93, No. 5, pp. 332-351 September-October

USDA (2003) Plant Guide white sage Salvia apiana Jepson. Available at http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_saap2.pdf (verified 01/06/2010)

US Forest Service (2003) Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Salvia%20apiana.pdf (verified 01/06/2010)

Global present distribution data references

Australian National Herbarium (ANH) (2010) Australia’s Virtual Herbarium, Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Diversity and Research, Available at http://www.anbg.gov.au/avh/ (verified 01/06/2010).

Department of the Environment and Heritage (Commonwealth of Australia). (1993 – On-going) Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) http://www.cpbr.gov.au/apni/index.html (verified 01/06/2010).

Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. [web application]. (200X) Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available at http://www.calflora.org/ (verified 01/06/2010).

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2010) Global biodiversity information facility, Available at http://www.gbif.org/ (verified 01/06/2010).

IPIntegrated Taxonomic Information System. (2010) Available at http://www.itis.gov/ (verified 01/06/2010).

Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) (2010) w³TROPICOS, Missouri Botanical Gardens Database, Available at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html (verified 01/06/2010).

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. (2010) Census of Vascular Plants of Victoria. Available at http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/research_and_conservation/plant_information/viclist (verified 01/06/2010).

United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. Taxonomy Query. (2009) Available at http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxgenform.pl (verified 26/03/2009).

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