Salvia argentea

It is relatively widespread in Paggaio. It is found in dry places of mountain meadows, stony shrublands, ravines, and road sides, at altitudes between 500 and 1,300 m asl.

A species rather widely distributed, but with a relatively small number of plants in the sites where it occurs. It is usually a biennial or perennial, herbaceous plant. It stands out with its upright (up to 90 cm tall), sparsely branched flowering stem, which is very sticky and covered with glandular hairs. Its long-petiolate leaves are opposite and widely ovate, with serrate edges, covered, especially the young ones, with silvery-white, soft, long, flexible, twisted hairs. Its large flowers are white, with minute reddish hairs, and scattered glands. Flowers arranged in groups of 4-6, forming verticillasters. A small green leaf-like bract is found beneath each verticillaster. Structurally, the flower is characteristic as it is 2-lipped. The upper lip, which is much longer than the lower, is pressed and convex while the lower one is divided into three lobes (imagine it as rounded divisions of the lower petal). It flowers from May to August. It belongs to the Lamiaceae, a family of plants that includes species used in cooking (such as oregano, mint, basil), phytotherapy (such as sage, mountain tea) and aromatherapy (such as lavender, thyme, rosemary). Although species of the genus Salvia have been used in folk medicine, cooking and perfumery, the uses of this species are limited. Only its antioxidant and antibacterial properties are known.

Due to its relatively wide distribution on Mount Paggaio, no particular threats and pressures were observed or reported, which could lead to a significant reduction in its population.

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It is not subjected to any national or international conservation status.