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.[3]
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).[4]
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.[4]
Cistus salviifolius cultivated in the nursery industry, and grown in gardens and public landscapes, often for its drought-tolerant and pollinator habitat attributes.
This plant prefers dry hills, scrubland and open woodlands, at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level.[4] It regrows very quickly following a fire.
^ abcdPignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 122.
^Guzmán, B. & Vargas, P. (2005). "Systematics, character evolution, and biogeography of Cistus L. (Cistaceae) based on ITS, trnL-trnF, and matK sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (3): 644–660. Bibcode:2005MolPE..37..644G. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.026. PMID16055353.
^Guzmán, B. & Vargas, P. (2009). "Historical biogeography and character evolution of Cistaceae (Malvales) based on analysis of plastid rbcL and trnL-trnF sequences". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 9 (2): 83–99. Bibcode:2009ODivE...9...83G. doi:10.1016/j.ode.2009.01.001.
^Antioxidant oligomeric proanthocyanidins from Cistus salvifolius. Fadi Qa’dan, Frank Petereit, Kenza Mansoor and Adolf Nahrstedt, Natural Product Research, Volume 20, Issue 13, 2006, pages 1216-1224, doi:10.1080/14786410600899225
^Flavan-3-ols, prodelphinidins and further polyphenols from Cistus salvifolius. Andreas Danne, Frank Petereit and Adolf Nahrstedt, Phytochemistry, 37, (2), 1994, Pages 533–538, doi:10.1016/0031-9422(94)85094-1
^Simultaneous LC-DAD and LC-MS Determination of Ellagitannins, Flavonoid Glycosides, and Acyl-Glycosyl Flavonoids in Cistus salvifolius L. Leaves. E. Saracini, M. Tattini, M. L. Traversi, F. F. Vincieri and P. Pinelli, Chromatographia, Volume 62, Numbers 5-6, pages 245-249, doi:10.1365/s10337-005-0623-7