sage; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the diandra clas of plants. The most remarkable species are,

1. The officinalis, or common large sage, which is cultivated in gardens, of which there are the following varieties: 1. The common green sage. 2. The wormwood sage. 3. The green sage, with a variegated leaf. 4. The red sage. 5. The red sage with a variegated leaf; these are accidental variations, and therefore are not enumerated as species. The common sage grows naturally in the southern parts of Europe, but is here cultivated in gardens for use; but that variety with red or blackish leaves, is the most common in the British gardens; and the wormwood sage is in greater plenty here than the common green-leaved sage, which is but in few gardens.

2. The tomentosa, generally titled balsamic sage by the gardeners. The stalks of this do not grow to upright as those of the common sage; they are very hairy, and divide into several branches, which are garnished with broad heart-shaped woolly leaves standing upon long foot-stalks; they are sawed on their edges, and their upper surfaces are rough; the leaves, which are upon the flower-stalks, are oblong and oval, standing upon shorter foot-stalks, and are very slightly sawed on their edges; they grow in wheeled spikes toward the top of the branches; the whorls are pretty far distant, but few flowers in each; they are of a pale blue, about the size of those of the common fort. This sage is preferred to all the others for making tea.

3. The auriculata, common sage of virtue, which is also well known in the gardens and markets. The leaves of this is narrower than those of the common fort; they are hoary, and some of them are indented on their edges towards the base, which indentures have the appearance of ears. The spikes of flowers are longer than those of the two former forts, and the whorls are generally naked, having no leaves between them. The flowers are smaller, and of a deeper blue than those of common red sage.

4. The pumila, with spear-shaped oval entire leaves, grow naturally in Crete. This hath a shrubby stalk, which rises four or five feet high, dividing into several branches. The flowers grow in spikes at the end of the branches; they are of a pale blue colour, and have obtuse empalements. The branches of this sage have often punctures made in them by insects, at which places grow large protuberances as big as apples, in the same manner as the galls upon an oak, and the rough balls on the briar.

All the sorts of sage may be propagated by seeds, if they can be procured; but, as some of them do not perfect their seeds in this country, and most of the forts, but especially the common kinds for use, are easily propagated by slips, it is not worth while to raise them from seeds.