Saponaria officinalis
Ordinary soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis)
Called The Ordinary soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis), also Soapwort, soap or washing Wurz Wurz, is a species of the Caryophyllaceae family. The poisonous for some animals plant was formerly used as a detergent. Today, she still finds application in natural medicine, how it is cultivated mainly in China, Iran and Turkey.
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 External links
Description
The Ordinary soapwort is a Hemikryptophyt ( plant stem ) with highly branched, underground runners that grow to form finger-thick rhizomes. The primary root is thickened beet -like. The perennial herbaceous plant reaches heights of growth between 30 to 80 centimeters. The plant has an erect, hairy stems soft, which is usually unbranched. On the leafy stems are three to five annoying, wide, five to ten centimeters long, lance-shaped leaves. They sit constantly crossing against the stem. The slightly fragrant flowers are in dense cymes ( dichasium ) that grow from the axils of the stem leaves. The sepals are fused together into a 20 to 25 mm long calyx tube. The five undivided pale pink to white petals form a circle of about two centimeters in diameter and a small secondary crown at the throat entrance. The flowering period is from June to October. The fruits are dry dehiscent capsules tetradentate above, they contain small black-brown, round, kidney-shaped, rough seeds of about 1.5 millimeters in length. Fruit ripening occurs from September to October one.
The chromosome number is n = 8
Ecology
The flowers are vormännliche " stem plate with flowers ( little) outstanding anthers and scars ." First bloom on the outer stamens, the inner, last of the stylus. The scent of flowers is in the evening and at night the most. Visitors are particularly moths, also pollen eating bees and hoverflies. The nectar is discharged at the bottom of the 2 cm long, enclosed by the calyx Kronblattnägel.
The way spreads as wind and animal Shaker, with the cup serves as a porch. Vegetative propagation is done by well- creeping rhizomes, so that, for example, in ballasted track systems on fallow land, can form larger stocks.
The type is recommended for wild plants gardens. In gardens you can also a form with double flowers.
Distribution and location
The Ordinary soap herb is native to heights up to 700 m in the temperate zones of Europe, in Madeira and in Western Siberia. In North America, it was naturalized by the immigrants in the 19th century. We find the ordinary soapwort fairly common weed in hallways, especially in floodplain landscapes ( Stromtalpflanze ), on river banks, dams, gravel bars, even on roads and dumps. It loves nutrient-rich, mostly fresh stone, sand or gravel soil. According to the ecological indicator values of Ellenberg it is a half-light plant, a freshness indicator, a weak acid to weak base pointer to moderately nitrogen-rich sites and a Verbandscharakterart halbruderaler pioneer and loose turf companies ( Convolvulo - Elymion ( = Agropyrion ) repentis ).
Ingredients, using
The whole plant contains ( in the rhizome 2-5 %) Triterpensaponine with the aglycone quillaic. The main components are found here Saponariosid A and B as well as other Saponariosiden.
Medical use
As medicinal drugs are the dried roots and rhizomes, rarely the herb. Traditionally, the plant parts are used as an expectorant in bronchitis with tough, dry secretions. It also has finished preparations. It should be noted that the soapwort like all Saponindrogen in higher doses can cause vomiting and therefore is slightly toxic. In tumor treatment which is also obtained from the soapwort plant protein toxin saporin is already used in tests.
Soapwort as a cleaning agent
The plant is a cultural companion and was probably planted since the Neolithic period. Because of their saponin extracts from the rhizome and roots earlier than soap substitute ( plant name ) served. Therefore, the plant has been cultivated in Europe until the beginning of the 20th century. In Slovakia today garments are " soaped " with cut Rhizomstückchen.
Environmentally conscious enterprises and individuals today use soapwort solution, for example for carpet and upholstery cleaning.
In restorers workshops soapwort solution is used for cleaning of historic textiles and furniture.
Food additive
Soapwort is used as a whipping agent such as in the manufacture of halvah.
More Pics
Whole plant
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Fruit stand
Seed
Sources and further information
The article is mainly based on the following documents: