Alpine motherwort

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Alpine motherwort
Alpine motherwort (Mutellina adonidifolia)

Alpine motherwort ( Mutellina adonidifolia )

Systematics
Euasterids II
Order : Umbelliferae (Apiales)
Family : Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)
Subfamily : Apioideae
Genre : Mutellina
Type : Alpine motherwort
Scientific name
Mutellina adonidifolia
( J.Gay ) Gutermann

The alpine motherwort ( Mutellina adonidifolia (J.Gay) Gutermann , Syn .: Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz ), also called Adonis-leaved motherwort , is a plant species within the umbellifers family (Apiaceae). According to data based on molecular genetics by Valiejo-Roman et al. In 2006 the genus Mutellina is to be separated from the genus Ligusticum and Pachypleurum .

The alpine motherwort is once a well-known medicinal plant (folk medicine) and often appears in alpine legends and blessings. The aromatic plant also has many popular names: many nuts, Madaun (see Madautal in Lechtal Alps ), Matau ( Bregenzerwald ), Mutteli, motherwort, chamois, bear fennel and the like. a.

description

Illustration from Atlas of Alpine Flora
Close up of a double-ended inflorescence
Double-headed inflorescence

Vegetative characteristics

The alpine motherwort grows as a perennial herbaceous plant and reaches heights of 10 to 20, rarely up to 50 cm. The base of the stem has a typical dense tuft of fibers. The upright stem itself is round at the bottom and often increasingly angular at the top. The leaves are triangular in outline and double to triple pinnate. They are predominantly undergraduate; but also the stem usually has 1-2 smaller leaves. The plant has roots up to a meter deep. The parts of the plant smell aromatic, this scent remains even in the hay.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from June to August. In contrast to the dwarf motherwort (Pachypleurum mutellinoides), the double-gold inflorescence has no bracts (or 1-2 deciduous and entire) bracts and is 7 to 15-rayed. The approximately 3 mm large five-petalled corollas are rarely white, but usually purple to pink / red. The always ribbed fruit is about 5 mm long and about 3.5 mm thick.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 22.

Occurrence

The distribution area of Mutellina adonidifolia includes the Alps and the mountains of southern and central Europe. There are localities for France , Germany , Switzerland , Italy , Austria , Poland , the Czech Republic , Slovakia , Slovenia , Croatia , Serbia , Bulgaria , Romania and the Ukraine .

In the Allgäu Alps, the alpine motherwort rises in Bavaria on the Große Steinscharte to an altitude of 2250 meters.

The alpine motherwort thrives mostly on fresh soils in rich pasture lawns, Karfluren, tall herbaceous meadows, base-rich silicate rocks and in snow valleys at altitudes of 1100 to 3000 meters. In Central Europe it occurs mainly in plant communities of the Salicetea herbaceae class, but also in humid nardetes or in societies of the Caricion ferrugineae, Caricion davallianae or in the Adenostylion.

Use in the kitchen

The use is similar to fresh parsley . It is also used to flavor cheese . The root extract is an integral part of numerous herbal liqueurs and schnapps. The spirit from the Bavarian Forest known as “ Bärwurz ” owes its characteristic aroma to the alpine motherwort and not to the Bärwurz ( Meum athamanticum ), as is often wrongly claimed.

Fodder plant

The alpine motherwort is one of the best forage plants in the Alps. When young, it is rich in crude protein and fats. It is a good food and medicinal plant for cattle. It promotes milk production and quality and has a warming effect in the intestines, helps with colic and protects against colds.

Folk medicine

The intensely aromatic root was previously used in folk medicine for flatulence, constipation, liver, kidney and bladder ailments, as well as numerous women's diseases. The decoction of the herb was considered to be stomach-tonic. The plant's essential oils have been thought to have an appetizing effect.

literature

  • Xaver Finkenzeller, Jürke Grau: Alpine flowers. Recognize and determine (=  Steinbach's natural guide ). Mosaik, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-576-11482-3 .
  • Wolfgang Adler, Karl Oswald, Raimund Fischer: Excursion flora of Austria . Ed .: Manfred A. Fischer. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart / Vienna 1994, ISBN 3-8001-3461-6 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ CM Valiejo-Roman, VS Shneyer, TH Samigullin, EI Terentieva, MG Pimenov: An attempt to clarify taxonomic relationships in “family circle of the genus Ligusticum” (Umbelliferae-Apioideae) by molecular analysis. In: Plant Systematics and Evolution. Volume 257, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 25-43, doi: 10.1007 / s00606-005-0383-8 .
  2. ↑ a b c Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  717 .
  3. ^ Ligusticum mutellina in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ Erhard Dörr, Wolfgang Lippert : Flora of the Allgäu and its surroundings. Volume 2, IHW, Eching 2004, ISBN 3-930167-61-1 , p. 281.
  5. ↑ Aichele D., Schwegler H.-W. The flowering plants of Central Europe, Volume 3, p. 223, Franckh-Kosmos-Vlg, Stuttgart, 1995 ISBN 3-440-06193-0

Web links

Commons : Alpen-Mutterwurz ( Mutellina adonidifolia )  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files