SAGE LEAVED ROCK ROSE
(Cistus salviifolius)
Appearance
An aromatic shrub with soft sage-like leaves. Long stalked
white flowers appear between February and May, seldom lasting more than
a day on the plant.
Habitat
This rock rose can dominate garigue or maquis vegetation and also
the under storey of pine forests, giving a fine display of flowers in
spring. Grows on both calcareous and non-calcareous formations from
sea-level to 4,500 ft.
Uses and Properties
Like all cistus species this plant exudes ladanum, a
dark gum with a pleasant, strongly aromatic, odour. According to legend
this ladanum is secreted from the dew of Heaven, just like manna.
Medicinally, ladanum is used against many disorders, taken internally or
externally, while smelling it is enough to protect against infection from
the plague and the smoke is said to be good for the eyes according to
tradition folk healers. The plant is attractive to bees mainly for its
pollen.
