Helichrysum italicum
Italian straw flower ( Helichrysum italicum )
The Italian Straw Flower, Immortelle also Italian or curry plant ( Helichrysum italicum ) is a flowering plant in the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). It is native to the Mediterranean, but also in addition be used as spice plant.
Description
The Italian straw flower grows as a shrub, reaching heights of growth of 20 to 60 centimeters. Young plant parts are grayish white tomentose hairs. The alternate arranged leaves are sessile. The leaf blade is narrowly linear with a rolled-over edge. The upper leaf surface is initially thin hairy tomentose and verkahlt later. The leaves smell especially after rain after curry.
In a dense, doldentraubigen total inflorescence sit the basket- shaped partial inflorescences. These flower heads contain only tubular flowers. The basket shell is golden yellow and narrow bell-shaped, while longer than wide. The bracts are imbricate in several rows, the outer ovate, the inner are linear. The tubular flowers are yellow. The flowering period extends from May to August.
Occurrence
The Italian straw flower comes in southern Europe, in the Maghreb, on the eastern Aegean islands and in Cyprus. It inhabits Garigues and open fields.
System
This species was first described in 1790 by Albrecht Wilhelm Roth under the name ( basionym ) Gnaphalium italicum. Don George junior she put Helichrysum italicum 1830 ( Roth) G.Don in the genus Helichrysum.
From the way Helichrysum italicum, there are six subspecies:
- Helichrysum italicum ( Roth) G.Don subsp. italicum: It is widespread in the total area of the species, but is absent in the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, Sicily and Crete.
- Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum ( Willd.) Nyman (syn. Helichrysum microphyllum Willd. ): It occurs in Majorca, Corsica, Sardinia, Greece and Crete.
- Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii ( Boiss. & Reut. ) Franco: It occurs in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.
- Helichrysum italicum subsp. pseudolitoreum ( Fiori) Bacchante, Brullo & Mossa. It comes only on the coast of Tuscany, in the Tuscan Archipelago and in Sardinia before.
- Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum ( Boiss. ) P.Fourn. ( Syn. Helichrysum serotinum Boiss. ): It comes in southern France, in the Iberian Peninsula, Ibiza and Formentera and in Algeria.
- Helichrysum italicum subsp. siculum ( Jord. & Fourr. ) Galbany, L.Sáez & BENEDI: It occurs on the Apennine peninsula, Sicily and Tunisia.
Use
The strong scent of the flowers is reminiscent of curry, it is particularly intense in hot weather. The young leaves and shoot axes are used to flavor rice, sauces and meat dishes, as well as fish and fillings. Twigs are simmered briefly and removed before serving. Dried inflorescences and shoots are used in floristry. The Italian straw flower is suitable for topiary and low hedges.
The essential oil acts as an antibacterial agent, anti-inflammatory and oxidation resistant. The oil can be recovered by distillation ( hydrodistillation ). The chemical composition is complex and contains various carboxylic acids and esters at least 27. The ingredients found in chemical analyzes vary greatly depending on the region of origin (North America, Italy, Greece), there are always given the maximum values : The chemical investigation of a second source is indicated in parentheses: