Abelmoschus esculentus (L - the University of Maine at Fort Kent

Kermath, Bennett and Pulsipher - Food Plants in the Americs
ENGLISH: California chia, chia, desert chia, golden chia, chia
sage, pashí (antiquated Native American)
SPANISH: chía
USES/NOTES: Seeds, rich in protein and oil, are used as a staple
grain raw, parched, or ground, and are consumed soaked to make a
thick, mucilaginous beverage, mashed, in soups, in pinoles, as a
spice to flavor wheat, or steeped as a tea. Seeds also were used
to render alkaline water potable. Also medicinal.
NATURAL RANGE: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in
the U.S. to central Baja California and northern Sonora, Mexico
REFERENCES: Angier 1972, Bailey Hortorium 1976, Bean and Saubel
1972, Brouk 1975, Castetter and Bell 1951, Castetter and
Underhill 1935, Facciola 1990, Hedges 1986, Hickman 1993,
Mabberley 1987, Murphey 1990, Native Seeds/SEARCH 1991, Rea 1991,
Romero 1954, Steward 1933, USDA-NRCS 2004, Yanovsky 1936, Zigmond
1981
Salvia hispanica L.
FAMILY: Labiatae or Lamiaceae (mint)
ENGLISH: chia, Mexican chia
PORTUGUESE: sálvia
SPANISH: chaaú, chan, chán, chía, chía blanco, chía de castilla,
chian, salvia
USES/NOTES: Dried, ground seeds are used in a mash mixed and
softened with water as food for infants and the infirm or to
treat hangovers and other ailments, or as flour (chianpinolli)
for breads and tortillas, often mixed with corn, and other baked
goods. Seeds also are placed in water to form a clear gelatinous
substance that is flavored with fruit juices and consumed as a
refreshing, thick beverage. Sprouts are edible. Seeds also are
germinated on clay figures and sold as chia pets. Along with
maize, amaranth, and beans, chia was a staple of the Aztecs.
NATURAL RANGE: Central Mexico, now common in Central America and
elsewhere
REFERENCES: Adams 1972, Cahill 2003, Coe 1994, Hernández Xolocotzi
1993, Kermath (notes), León 1987, Mabberley 1987, OAS 1973,
Sandoval 1989, Sauer 1963, Vázquez et al. 1995, von Reis Altschul
1973, Weber et al. 1991
Salvia mellifera E. Greene
FAMILY: Labiatae or Lamiaceae (mint)
ENGLISH: black sage
SPANISH: salvia negra
USES/NOTES: Aromatic leaves and young stems are used as an herb and
for tea, and seeds are edible parched and ground.
NATURAL RANGE: Western North America
REFERENCES: Bean and Saubel 1972, Clarke 1977, Hickman 1993, Munz
1974
Salvia mexicana L.
DRAFT - DO NOT DUPLICATE OR DISTRIBUTE
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