# Cistus salviifolius

Cistus salviifolius, common names sage-leaved rock-rose, salvia cistus or Gallipoli rose, is a shrub of the family Cistaceae.

## Etymology

The genus name Cistus derives from the Ancient Greek words κίσθος (kisthos) meaning basket, while the species name salviifolius refers the wrinkled leaves similar to those of the sage.

## Description

Cistus salviifolius has spreading stems covered by clumpy hairs. This bushy shrub reaches on average 30–60 centimetres (12–24 in) in height, with a maximum of 100 centimetres (39 in). The oval-shaped green leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long, opposite, reticulate, tomentose on both sides, with a short petiole (2–4 mm).
The inflorescence holds one or more round flowers, long-stalked, arranged at the leaf axils. The five white petals have a yellow spot at the base, forming a corolla 4–6 cm in diameter. The stamens are also yellow and the anthers shed abundant yellow pollen. This plant is pollinated by insects (entomophily), especially by bees. The flowering period extends from April through May. The fruit is a pentagonal capsule, 5–7 mm long.

## Phylogeny

Cistus salviifolius belongs to the white and whitish pink flowered clade of Cistus species.
Species-level cladogram of Cistus species. :
| Halimium spp.     Halimium spp.  PPC     Cistus crispus       Cistus heterophyllus     Cistus albidus   Cistus creticus     Cistus asper   Cistus chinamadensis   Cistus horrens   Cistus ocreatus   Cistus osbeckiifolius   Cistus palmensis   Cistus symphytifolius   WWPC       Cistus clusii   Cistus munbyi     Cistus inflatus   Cistus ladanifer   Cistus laurifolius   Cistus libanotis   Cistus monspeliensis   Cistus parviflorus   Cistus populifolius   Cistus pouzolzii   Cistus salviifolius   Cistus sintenisii | Purple Pink Clade  White Whitish Pink Clade |
Species-level cladogram of Cistus species, based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences. :

## Gallery

* Plants of Cistus salviifolius
* Close-up on a flower of Cistus salviifolius
* Fruits of Cistus salviifolius
* Close-up on a fruit of Cistus salviifolius
* Leaves of Cistus salviifolius

## Cultivation

Cistus salviifolius cultivated in the nursery industry, and grown in gardens and public landscapes, often for its drought-tolerant and pollinator habitat attributes.

## Distribution

This showy wildflower is native to the Mediterranean region, in southern Europe and parts of Western Asia and North Africa.

## Habitat

This plant prefers dry hills, scrubland and open woodlands, at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level. It regrows very quickly following a fire.

## Synonyms

| Cistus macrocalyx Sennen & Pau Cistus paui Sennen Cistus salomonis Sennen & Malag. Cistus salviifolius [β] macrocalyx Willk. Cistus salviifolius [1] brevipedunculatus Willk. Cistus salviifolius [2] longipedunculatus Willk. Cistus salviifolius [alfa] vulgaris Willk. Cistus salviifolius [delta] biflorus Willk. Cistus salviifolius [epsilon] cymosus Willk. | Cistus salviifolius [gamma] grandifolius Willk. Cistus salviifolius var. fissipetalus Sennen Cistus salviifolius var. occidentalis Rouy & Foucaud Cistus salviifolius var. rierae Sennen Cistus salviifolius var. schizocalyx Sennen Cistus salviifolius L. Ledonia peduncularis var. salviifolia (L.) Spach Ledonia peduncularis Spach |
Other synonyms reported by The Plant List include:
* Cistus apricus Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus arrigens Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus elegans Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus fruticans Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus humilis Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus microphyllus Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus platyphyllus Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus rhodanensis Timb.-Lagr.
* Cistus sideritis C.Presl
* Cistus velutinus Timb.-Lagr.

## Chemistry

Cistus salviifolius contains flavan-3ols, oligomeric proanthocyanidins and prodelphinidins such as epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-hydroxybenzoate), epigallocatechin-(4β→8)-epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin -3-O-gallate-(4β→8)-epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin-(4β→6)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, 1-O-β-d -(6′-O-galloyl)-glucopyranosyl-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzene, epigallocatechin-(4β→8)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, 1-O-β-d- glucopyranosyl-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzene and rhododendrin (betuloside). It also contains ellagitannins of the punicalagin type.