Abstract
Sage is defined as the drog obtained from fresh or dried leaves of Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae, Labiatae) in Pharmacopoeias and monographs.However, in our country, mostly 2 genera belonging to Labiatae family (Salvia L. and Sideritis L.) and species of these genera are known as sage. 88 Salvia and 44 Sideritis species grow naturally in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to identify the herbal drugs sold under the name of sage in Ankara, and also to determine their morphological and anatomical properties and determining whether they conform to European Pharmacopoeia or not. 9 samples which sold under the name sage were taken from 5 different herbalists located in different parts of Ankara. The samples were numbered and identified according to their morphological properties and their morphological photographs were taken. Preparations of 9 different samples were examined under the microscope and their characteristic features were determined, the differences between these species were put forward by means of drawings and photographs. As a result of study, it was determined that species that are sold in herbalist under the name sage actually belonged to 4 different taxa belonging to 2 genera (Sideritis congesta P.H.Davis & Hub.- Mor., Sideritis caesarea H.Duman, Aytaç & Başer, Salvia fruticosa Miller and Salvia sp.). The anatomical properties specific to Labiatae family were seen in these species as characteristic features