Real lavender

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Real lavender
Real lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), illustration

Real lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ), illustration

Systematics
Euasterids I
Order : Mint family (Lamiales)
Family : Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Subfamily : Nepetoideae
Genre : Lavender ( Lavandula )
Type : Real lavender
Scientific name
Lavandula angustifolia
Mill.

The Lavandula angustifolia or narrow-lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia , Syn. : Lavandula officinalis , Lavandula vera ), also briefly Lavender called, is a species of the genus lavender ( Lavandula ) within the family of the mint (Lamiaceae). It is mainly used as an ornamental plant or to extract fragrances, and real lavender is also used as a medicinal plant.

description

Appearance and leaf

leaves

The real lavender is a gray-tomentose, hairy, aromatic shrub that reaches heights of up to 100 (rarely up to 200) centimeters. The twigs are ascending, upright and heavily branched, stiffly upright and unbranched, or they have short shoots. The opposite leaves are 40 to 50 millimeters long, lanceolate, oblong or linear and narrow at both ends. They are blunt, entire and more or less curled at the edge. When young, the leaves are gray-tomentose on the top and bottom, later they turn green.

Inflorescence, flower and fruit

Habit and inflorescences

The six to ten flowered phantom whorls combine to form an up to 8 centimeters long, spiked inflorescence . The bracts have a length of up to 8 millimeters, are mostly wide diamond-shaped, obovate, awned, membranous and brown or purple in color, the nerves are clearly recognizable. The flower stalks are very short, small linear bracts are present or not.

The hermaphrodite flower is zygomorphic and five-fold with a double flower envelope . The calyx is gray-purple, short fluffy, ovate-tubular, up to 7 millimeters long and 13-nerved. The calyx teeth are unequal, the upper one at the tip is enlarged in an inverted heart shape. The purple corolla is weakly two-lipped, the tube protrudes up to 12 millimeters. The upper lip consists of two, the lower lip of three equal, round, fused petals. The four stamens are bent down and enclosed, the front two are longer. The ovary is above and four-part. The flowering period extends from June to August.

The Klausen are shiny brown.

Chromosome number

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 36 or 54.

Occurrence

The home of lavender are originally the coastal regions of the Mediterranean . There it occurs widespread on dry, warm slopes as far as Dalmatia and Greece as well as in Tuscany in Italy. The real lavender grows on dry and rocky slopes and occasionally reaches the tree line. It is a species of the Ononido rosemary tea class in the Mediterranean region.

Benedictine monks introduced it north of the Alps. The real lavender is one of those species that are considered to be hardy and therefore survive the winter common in Central Europe outdoors, even if they have no special location, have not been specially prepared for winter and are not specially protected from its effects. He is naturalized near Jena , Rudolstadt and Bad Blankenburg . Around 1800 there was a larger population on the so-called Lavender Mountain near Laubenheim between Bingen and Bad Kreuznach . However, this lavender mountain was reused around 1840, the rhizomes were torn out and used as firewood. The area was then converted into a vineyard , as happened on Mont Vully near Murten in Switzerland . General of Lavandula angustifolia is only planted in gardens as a perennial plant before and rarely wild it. There is currently a modest lavender cultivation in Germany near Detmold .

Systematics

One can distinguish the following subspecies:

  • Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia : It is originally found in southern France and Italy.
  • Lavandula angustifolia subsp. pyrenaica (DC.) Guinea : It occurs from the Pyrenees to northeastern Spain. The number of chromosomes is 2n = 48.

cultivation

Real lavender is mainly used to extract fragrances or as an ornamental plant.

  • Flower close up

  • inflorescence

  • Several lavender bushes

  • Lavender field in Canada

  • Lavender cultivation in the south of France

  • After harvest

  • Dried lavender flowers

  • Real lavender on a Romanian postage stamp

Cultivation to harvest

Lavender is the characteristic plant of high Provence ; the large lavender fields are a tourist destination. The lavender acreage there was roughly halved between 2002 and 2012. The causes are pests and some cold spells with little snow (snow protects the lavender from severe frost), for example the cold spell in 2012 and the storm Daisy in January 2010.

The less noble lavandin ( Lavandula × intermedia ), a natural hybrid of real lavender and Speik lavender ( Lavandula latifolia ), is grown more frequently than real lavender in Provence . This is very often the basis for inexpensive essences, washing powders and oils. However, their scent is weaker than that of products made from real lavender. The colder the area, the less odorous the lavender.

Multiplication

The plants are propagated by seeds , division of larger sticks and root-forming side shoots, subsidence or cuttings .

Oil extraction

Lavender oil is made from the inflorescences with stems . This is done by drag distillation or steam distillation , the setting of the flowers in fatty oils such as olive oil (" maceration ") and subsequent dissolving is hardly used today. In order to get rich raw material, it is harvested in the early morning or shortly after rain, when the flowers have dried up again. "Lavender fine" and "Lavender extra" are obtained from Lavandula angustifolia . Wild mountain lavender, which grows at altitudes of up to 1,800 m and is harvested from the wild, serves as the distillation base for "extra lavender". “Lavender Mont Blanc” or “Barreme” are trade names based on a standardized ester content.

beekeeping

In beekeeping , lavender is a valued sideline due to the high sugar content of its nectar (21–48%) and its high sugar value (up to 0.26 mg sugar / day per flower) .

Lavender in the form of its flower drug

Pests and diseases

Lavender is threatened by various pests such as gall midges ( Resseliella Lavandulae ), leaf beetles of the subfamily Galerucinae ( Arima marginata ), caterpillars of winder moths ( Eulia polita ) and aphids ( Eucaria elegans , Aphis spp ...).

In many cases, diseases of lavender can be traced back to the leaf cicada ( Hyalesthes obsoletus ), which Stolbur phytoplasms ( Candidatus Phytoplasma solani ) transmit. The affected plant dries up and dies because this pathogenic microorganism spreads in the tissues and prevents the circulation of the sap. Combating this disease is difficult. The cicada larvae live in the ground and are out of the reach of conventional insecticides there .

ingredients

Dried lavender flowers contain 1 to 3 percent (v / m) of essential oil (at least 1.3 percent in offical quality) , as well as lamiacea tannins and phenol carboxylic acids such as B. rosmarinic acid . The essential lavender oil obtained by steam distillation is also used . Its main components are (-) - linalool (20 to 45 percent) and linalyl acetate (25 to 47 percent), as well as other terpenes or terpene derivatives such as cis - ocimen , β- caryophyllene , limonene and terpinen-4-ol .

use

kitchen

Young leaves and soft shoots are suitable for refining dishes such as stews, fish, poultry, lamb and in sauces and soups, and in smaller quantities also in salads. Lavender is particularly popular in French, Italian and Spanish cuisine. In the avant-garde kitchen, it is also used in desserts, e.g. B. in white chocolate mousse or in apricot sorbet. The aroma is similar to that of rosemary and is bitter to spicy. Lavender is not one of the standard components of the Herbes de Provence spice mix , but it is often included in it. The dried, airtight and light-protected packed spice will keep for 6 to 9 months.

Cosmetics and perfumery

Lavender is a genus of plants valued in perfumery. This is especially true for the real lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ).

medicine

The following are used as medicinal drugs :

  • the dried lavender flowers (Latin name: Lavandulae flos ) that were collected and dried shortly before they unfolded ,
  • the essential oil obtained from the fresh flowers or inflorescences by steam distillation (Latin name: Lavandulae aetheroleum ).

The flowers are used internally as a watery extract ( medicinal tea ) or added to the bath water as an infusion ( balneotherapy ).

Extracts from lavender flowers have mildly calming, flatulence-resistant and cholagogue properties. This is used to alleviate symptoms such as inner restlessness, nervous exhaustion, difficulty falling asleep, migraines and nervous gastrointestinal and biliary problems. A double-blind study published in 2014 was able to demonstrate the potential benefits of lavender oil for anxiety disorders. The calming effect is also used in aromatherapy . This is where the evaporating linalyl acetate acts .

Rubbing in with lavender oil mainly irritates the skin and is therefore used to combat rheumatic complaints. It is used as a bath additive for functional circulatory disorders. Because of its antibacterial properties, lavender oil is also found in gargle solutions. In an in vitro study, Portuguese researchers were able to show that lavender oil inhibits or kills the growth of various yeast ( Candida species ) and filamentous fungi in certain concentrations . Any clinical effectiveness has not been proven.

The expert jury of the Theophrastus Naturheilverein chose real lavender as Medicinal Plant of the Year 2008, for 2020 the Interdisciplinary Study Group Development History of Medicinal Herbology chose it as Medicinal Plant of the Year .

Repellent

For the insect-repellent use, alcoholic solutions are used or lavender flower bags are placed between the laundry.

literature

  • Janina Drostel: lavender, cinnamon and rosewood. The world of sensual scents. Thorbecke, Ostfildern 2006, ISBN 3-7995-3522-5 .
  • Herbert G. Scholz: Hidden things in lavender. Foreground and background in Provence. Impressions from the turbulent history of a grandiose landscape. 3. Edition. Morstadt, Kehl 1996, ISBN 3-88571-299-7 .
  • Drutmar Cremer: Poetic walks through Provence. Where light is sown and lavender dreams bloom. Ars liturgica, Maria Laach 1991, ISBN 3-9802451-4-4 .
  • Alfred Blaufuß, Hans Reichert: The flora of the Nahe area and Rheinhessen. (= Pollichia book. Volume 26). Self-published by Pollichia , Bad Dürkheim 1992, ISBN 3-925754-25-3 .
  • Ingrid Schönfelder, Peter Schönfelder : The new manual of medicinal plants. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-440-09387-5 .
  • Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig: Lexicon of medicinal plants and drugs. 2nd Edition. Spectrum, Heidelberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-8274-2053-4 .

Movie

  • Lavender: flower between heaven and hell. Documentation, 45 min. A film by Christian and Dorlie Fuchs, production: Saarländischer Rundfunk , first broadcast: October 15, 2006 ( summary from SR)

Web links

Commons : Real Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Narrow-leaved lavender. In: FloraWeb.de.
  2. ↑ a b Markus Bolliger, Matthias Erben, Jürke Grau, Günther R. Heubl: Shrub trees (= Steinbach's natural guide ). New, edit. Special edition. Mosaik, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-576-10560-3 .
  3. ↑ a b 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. 797 .
  4. ↑ a b c d Marie-Luise Kreuter: Herbs and spices from their own garden. BLV, Munich, 2009, ISBN 978-3-8354-0324-6 , p. 168.
  5. ^ A b B. Hlava, D. Lanska: Lexicon of culinary and aromatic herbs. NovaPart, Munich 1977, p. 168.
  6. ↑ a b Dietrich Wabner , Christiane Beier (ed.): Aromatherapy: Basics - Working principles - Practice. Elsevier / Urban & Fischer, Munich / Jena 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-56990-6 , p. 204.
  7. ↑ von Naunheim: Through the Nahe valley. In Austrian Botanical Journal. Volume 14, No. 2, 1864, pp. 33-50 (here: p. 45) , No. 3, 1864, pp. 77-84 (here: p. 78 ).
  8. ↑ WDJ Koch: Pocket book of the German and Swiss flora, containing the more precisely known plants which grow wild in Germany, Switzerland, Prussia and Istria and are cultivated in large numbers for human use. 5th edition. Gebhardt & Reisland, Leipzig 1860, p. 381 ( preview in the Google book search).
  9. ↑ Lavender cultivation in the Teutoburg Forest . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . from September 19, 2016, p. 19.
  10. ↑ a b c Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Lavandula angustifolia. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ Lavandula angustifolia at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  12. ↑ Helge Sobik: Lavender fields in Provence: Life in purple . On: spiegel.de from May 22, 2013; accessed on October 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ a b L. F. Dietrich: Encyclopedia of the entire lower and higher garden art. Arnold, Leipzig 1860, p. 514 ( digitized versionhttp: //vorlage_digitalisat.test/1%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Freader.digitale-sammlungen.de%2Fde%2Ffs1%2Fobject%2FgoToPage%2Fbsb10294884.html%3FpageNo%3D522~GB%3D~IA%3D~MDZ% 3D% 0A ~ SZ% 3D ~ double-sided% 3D ~ LT% 3D ~ PUR% 3D ).
  14. ↑ a b Marina Bährle-Rapp: Springer Lexicon Cosmetics and Body Care. 3rd edition. Springer, 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-71094-3 , p. 316.
  15. ↑ Helmut Horn, Cord Lüllmann: The great honey book. 3. Edition. Kosmos, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-440-10838-4 , p. 31.
  16. ↑ Danger to lavender: cicadas threaten flowering . on: Provence-Info: from August 6, 2014; last accessed on December 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ Philipp Graf: Danger for Lavender - Threatened Blossom - Cicadas threaten lavender fields in Provence . on: Tagesspiegel.de from August 3, 2014; last accessed on December 28, 2017.
  18. ^ Andreas Hummel: Drug theory - textbook care for the elderly. Vincentz Network, Hannover 2004, ISBN 3-87870-482-8 , p. 37.
  19. ↑ Siegfried Kasper, Markus Gastpar u. a .: Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder - a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. In: The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. Volume 17, 2014, pp. 859-869, doi: 10.1017 / S1461145714000017 .
  20. ↑ Mónica Zuzarte, MJ Gonçalves, C. Cavaleiro, J. Canhoto, L. Vale-Silva, M. João Silva, E. Pinto, L. Salgueiro: Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils of Lavandula viridis L'Hér. In: Journal of Medical Microbiology. Tape. 60, No. 5, 2011, pp. 612–618, doi: 10.1099 / jmm.0.027748-0 .−
  21. ^ A. Angioni, A. Barra, V. Coroneo, S. Dessi, P. Cabras: Chemical composition, seasonal variability, and antifungal activity of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp. stoechas essential oils from stem / leaves and flowers. In: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry . Volume 54, No. 12, 2006, pp. 4364-4370, PMID 16756368 , doi: 10.1021 / jf0603329 .−
  22. ↑ Mónica Zuzarte, MJ Gonçalves, C. Cavaleiro, AM Dinis, JM Canhoto, LR Salgueiro: Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils of Lavandula pedunculata (Miller) Cav. In: Chemistry & Biodiversity. Volume 6, No. 8, 2009, pp. 1283-1292, PMID 19697345 , doi: 10.1002 / cbdv.200800170 .
  23. ↑ Medicinal Plant of the Year - 2008 is Lavender Year , DAZ 2007, No. 42, p. 32.
  24. ↑ Lavender is Medicinal Plant of the Year 2020 , DAZ.online , November 7, 2019.