Dictamnus
Dictamnus albus
Called The Burning Bush ( Dictamnus albus), also Aschwurz or Burning Bush, is the only species of the monotypic genus burning bush, he belongs to the rue family ( Rutaceae ). This species is under protection since 1936, because she came even then only sporadically in Central Europe.
- 7.1 Literature
- 7.2 Notes and references
Description
Burning bush is a perennial, herbaceous plant with creeping, whitish rhizome, which reaches a height of 60 to 120 cm. The unbranched stem is erect. The leaves are simple pinnate with 3-5 Fiederpaaren and have a lemon-like scent. The oblong- ovate leaflets are long and 8 cm.
The five-fold, slightly zygomorphic flowers are in clusters and measure 4-6 cm in diameter. The pink, rarely whitish petals have a dark veins; the downwardly facing petal is slightly smaller than the other four, upwardly and laterally. The ten stamens are curved upwards. The fruit is a capsule.
The flowering period extends from May to June, the fruit ripening is in midsummer.
Ecology
The smell of the burning bush can be mimicked by a mixture of vanilla and lemon flavor. When ripe enter the glands of the fruit stands from as much essential oil that the plant can already be smelled from a distance. There arises here a combustible gas, which is on extremely hot days also can self-ignite. This is explained by the burning glass effect in droplet formation. At dusk you can see with no wind and great heat on the plant small blue flames. Because of this phenomenon is believed that Diptam the " Burning Bush " is in the Bible. However, this plant has no thorns or spines and is not found in the Holy Land.
With plenty of hot wind dry the fruits of one. The fruit peel tear on, roll up and throw out the ball-shaped, about 4 mm small seeds. Since the burning bush usually grows clonally in groups, sometimes you can hear the popping of common fruits in summer. The seeds can be thrown outside to about five meters.
Taxonomy and etymology
The burning bush was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum. An important synonym is Dictamnus fraxinella pers.
The genus name Dictamnus was transferred in the Middle Ages from the burning bush - Dost or Cretan Diktam (Origanum dictamnus ), which belongs to the plant family Lamiaceae, against the background of strong aromatic fragrance for both plants and assessed as comparable healing effect on the burning bush.
The scientific species name albus ( "white" ) refers to the whitish, creeping rhizomes.
Dissemination
The burning bush is native to the northern Mediterranean region, in south-eastern Europe and southern and central Central Europe.
He prefers to grow in the clearings of thermophilic dry forests and thickets, especially on forest fringes in the transition to dry grasslands and appreciates dry, calcareous and nitrogen- poor soils in semi -shaded position.
In Germany the Diptam applies nationwide as well as at the country level in Bavaria, Baden -Württemberg and Saxony- Anhalt as " endangered", in Hesse as " critically endangered " and " extinct " in North Rhine -Westphalia and Lower Saxony / Bremen as. According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance he is " special protection ". Collecting plant or plant parts is prohibited.
In Austria, the burning bush in the provinces of Burgenland, Vienna and Lower Austria occurs only in the Pannonian area on scattered to rare and considered endangered.
Ingredients
The plant contains dissolved in essential oils may irritate the skin furanocoumarins as bergapten, xanthotoxin and psoralen and Furochinolinalkaloide; Thymolmethyläther, pinene, anethole, estragole, myrcene, limonene, Cineal and alkaloids such Skimmianin, Fagrain and Dictamin, also saponins, bitter substances, anthocyanins and flavonoid glycosides.
The furanocoumarins contained mainly in the glandular bristles (primarily bergapten ) are phototoxic substances which sensitize them in contact with the skin to sunlight and can cause serious, often lengthy combustion -type injuries in subsequent tanning.
Use
Garden plant
Since the burning bush in ancient times was considered a medicinal plant and in flowering state is decorative, it has started its cultivation in the garden very early stage. During the Renaissance, he was already a popular garden plant. Today, he is more likely to find rare in gardens, due to its specific habitat requirements and its toxicity.
Medicinal plant
The Burning Bush is no longer used because of its partially toxic ingredients as a medicinal plant, especially as found for the previously described efficacies no evidence.
Burning bush with fruits
Fruit stand