Salvia Riparia

Salvia riparia H.B.K., a member of the Labiatae, is indigenous to America from Mexico to Peru, as well as in the West Indies. ^{1 , 2} Prior to 1908 it was introduced into Java, where it has been used extensively as a ground cover and as green manure in perennial crops, such as coffee. ¹¹ According to Backer, ^{2 , 3} it was described in 1912 by Van Welsem ¹² under the erroneous name Salvia occidentalis Swartz. Later, an erect form was described as Salvia privoides B.T.H. ¹¹ The name S. occidentalis instead of S. riparia was originally used in flowering research. ^{8 , 13} This practice was continued by Bhargava. ⁴ However, it is recommended that physiologists follow the accepted nomenclature.