ABSTRACT
The vernacular name “sage” is attributed to different aromatic species of the genus Salvia L. which are widely used as spices, as well as in the food, drug and fragrance industry (cf. Lawrence 1979-1995 and references therein; Kokkini 1994). The genus Salvia, one of the largest Labiatae genera, includes c. 900 species and has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. SW and C Asia is considered its major centre of origin (Hedge 1992).
