Siirt adaçayını koparan yandı! 387 bin 141 lira ceza uygulanıyor. The person who plucks Siirt sage is in trouble! A fine of 387,141 Turkish lira is being imposed.

The Siirt sage (Salvia Siirtica), which has the characteristic of being a local endemic plant grown in the Sinep village of Siirt's Tillo district, is subject to a fine of 387,141 Turkish liras for those who pick it. The plant, which grows in the cemetery of Sinep village, which is affiliated with the Tillo district, is under protection due to its status as a critically endangered species "CR" according to IUCN criteria and its single habitat and population size.

"SIIRT SAGE IS ONE OF THE LOCAL ENDEMIC SPECIES"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Fidan, the head of the Department of Biology at Siirt University, stated that sage is a species belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Fidan, who stated that more than 50 of the approximately 100 species of sage found nationwide are endemic, said, "Some of them are locally endemic. Siirt sage is one of the local endemic species. It is only found in a specific point in Siirt. It blooms for a period of 15-20 days in a year, then closes its flowers and starts to form fruits."

"THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THIS PLANT IS A CEMETERY"

Reminding that Siirt sage is a species with a critically endangered status and therefore protected, Fidan stated that a fine of 387,141 Turkish liras is imposed in case of picking it. Emphasizing that the area where this species is distributed is a village cemetery, Fidan said; "The area where Siirt sage is found is actually very important. According to our belief, cemeteries are very important areas for the protection of plants. Because we believe that nothing should be taken from cemeteries. The natural habitat of this plant is a cemetery. We consider it as a species that is naturally protected."

Fidan, stating that Siirt sage is a species in the Lamiaceae family of medicinal aromatic plants and is studied by many researchers, added that increasing the number of individuals of endemic plants is important.