PNW381 MEDITERRANEAN SAGE ( aethiopis L.)

Mediterranean sage is native to revealing prominent veins and a southern and southeastern Europe, wrinkled surface. Most of the as far north as Czechoslovakia and leaves form a basal rosette. Stem 51 o North Latitude in south central leaves are progressively smaller Russia and east through Turkey and clasp the stem, with the into Iran. Probably introduced in uppermost ones reduced to the United States in seed, purple-tinged bracts having a long Mediterranean sage has also been tapering point. Rosette leaves have planted as a garden flower. Since indented or irregular margins and its introduction near Susanville, a stalk llf2 to 3lf2 inches long. California, around 1892, Mediterranean sage leaves are light Mediterranean sage has invaded green to gray-green and do not extensive areas of rangeland in have the yellow cast of common northern California, southeastern mullein, which Mediterranean Oregon, and northcentral Idaho. sage rosettes resemble. Mullein leaves are neither stalked nor Although not poisonous to toothed along the margin. In livestock, Mediterranean sage addition, Mediterranean sage reduces forage production by emits a pungent sagelike odor displacing less competitive, more Mediterranean sage has a when crushed. palatable species. The Pacific candelabra-shaped flower stalk that Northwest's largest rangeland breaks off to fonn a tumbleweed. A branched panicle that resembles infestations occur in Idaho County, a candelabra bears numerous Idaho, and southern Lake County, counties. It also grows in Arizona, flowers in woolly clusters. Four to Oregon. Small scattered Colorado, and Texas. six white flowers are clustered in infestations grow in Baker, Grant, whorls. Each flower is about lf2 Mediterranean sage is a Class B Harney, Klamath, Malheur and inch long, shaped like a mint noxious weed in Oregon and Wheeler counties, Oregon. In flower, with the upper lip California and a Oass A noxious Washington, Mediterranean sage resembling a hooked beak. The weed in Washington. It is not on grows in Columbia and Klickitat pale yellow lower lip divides into the Idaho noxious weed list. IDEN'I'IFICATION Mediterranean sage is a member of the mint family (). It has erect, sturdy, squarish stems up to 3 feet tall, opposite leaves and a stout taproot. are densely woolly with white hairs, especially when young. As they age, the Small white flowers appear in woolly upper sides of the leaves often lose Mediterranean sage rosette leaves are clusters at the tips of branches. the felty covering of hairs, gray-green with irregular margins.

A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication • Washington • Idaho • Oregon three lobes, having a center lobe CONTROL The author acknowledges the smaller than the outer lobes. Each support of the Washington State flower produces four seeds. Seeds Prevent seed movement and Department of Agriculture and the are smooth, brown with darker control new infestations. In Washington State Noxious Weed brown veins, egg-shaped and addition to tumbleweed seed Control Board in preparation of about ljs inch long. dispersal, seeds may move with this bulletin. contaminated soil, hay, agricultural equipment, livestock, BIOLOGY AND wildlife and vehicles. By Cindy Roche, M.S., Washington State University Extension ECOLOGY Dig out individual plants to Coordinator, and Scientist in eradicate small infestations. In Natural Resource Sciences. Photos at Mediterranean sage is a biennial or Oregon, cutting the taproot 2 to 3 left and center by Cindy Roche. Photo short-lived perennial. During its inches below the crown when the at right by Eric Coombs. first growing season it forms a plants were starting to bolt Use pesticides with care. Apply them only to plants, animals, or sites listed rosette of basal leaves that remain prevented most resprouting. close to the ground. Second year on the label. When mixing and Remove all plants before flowering applying pesticides, follow all label rosettes are very leafy, almost each year until the seed reserve in precautions to protect yourself and succulent, and are usually 7 to 10 the soil is exhausted. No one others around you. It is a violation of the law to disregard label directions. inches in diameter, although they knows how long the seed can can grow to 4 feet across. If pesticides are spilled on skin or remain viable in the soil. Weed clothing, remove clothing and wash Flowering occurs from May to scientists do not advise mowing skin thoroughly. Store pesticides in August of the second and because the rosettes are too low their original containers and keep following years. After flowering, them out of the reach of children, and mowing may spread seeds by pets, and livestock. the seed-bearing top detaches at a cutting flowering tops. Cultivation natural joint. The wind blows it Pacific Northwest cooperative will control Mediterranean sage, Extension bulletins are joint about as a tumbleweed, scattering but is rarely an option on sites publications of the three Pacific seeds. An average sized plant where the weed grows. Northwest states-Washington, produces 50 to 100,000 seeds. Seeds Oregon, and Idaho. Similar crops, germinate in the fall or spring. As A biological control insect, the climate, and topography create a the seeds take in water, cells of the Mediterranean sage natural geographic unit that crosses (), has been state lines. Since 1949, the PNW seed coat excrete a mucilaginous program has published over 350 substance. This mucilage layer established on the major titles. Joint writing, editing, and apparently functions like a infestations in Oregon (1969), production have prevented covering of soil to limit water loss. California (1974) and Idaho (1979). duplication of effort, broadened the Its larvae mine the root, crown, availability of faculty specialists, and Mediterranean sage is primarily a substantially reduced costs for the and basal leaf petioles, weakening participating states. rangeland weed, but occasionally affected plants. Although heavily appears in alfalfa and grain crops. Issued by Washington State infested seedlings and young University Cooperative Extension, It usually grows on warm dry sites rosettes die as a result, the weevil Larry G. James, Interim Director; (often south-facing slopes) with has not stopped the spread of Oregon State University Extension soils ranging in texture from silt Mediterranean sage. Service, 0. E. Smith, Director; loam to loamy sand. Very invasive University of Idaho Cooperative Chemical control can be effective, Extension System, LeRoy D. Luft, on disturbed sites, it can also move Director; and the U.S. Department of into openings in less disturbed but it is difficult to penetrate the Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts sagebrush and bunchgrass woolly leaves without using of May 8 and June 30,1914. communities. It has become a adjuvants. For chemical control Cooperative Extension programs and policies comply with federal and state dominant plant in the shrub steppe recommendations, refer to the Padfic NorthweSt Weed Control laws and regulations on of southern Lake County, Oregon. nondiscrimination regarding race, Handbook, an annually revised In Turkey and the Mediterranean color, national origin, religion, extension publication available region, it grows on dry grasslands, gender, age, disability, and gender from the extension offices of preference. Trade names have been igneous and limestone slopes, Oregon State University, used to simplify information; no fallow fields, and roadsides from Washington State University and endorsement is intended. Published near sea level to 6,900 feet November 1991. 50/0/50 the University of Idaho. elevation. PNW381 2