Laurus nobilis
Plant parts of Real laurel (Laurus nobilis)
The True laurel (Laurus nobilis), also called Noble laurel or bay seasoning, is a species of the genus laurels (Laurus ) within the laurel family ( Lauraceae ). It is used as a medicinal and spice plant.
Description
The True laurel is an evergreen shrub or tree and can reach heights of growth of up to 10 meters. The leathery, upper side shiny leaves smell aromatic.
The small greenish-yellow flowers are borne in inflorescences doldigen. The berries are shiny and blue-black.
Dissemination and culture conditions
The Real Laurel has, coming from the Near East, are spread throughout the Mediterranean and the Pacific Northwest of America.
Since it is only hardy conditioned, it survives only in the Rhineland, planted at Lake Constance and climatically similar regions of Germany mild with winter outdoors all year round. On Helgoland you will find some great ausgepflanzte specimens that thrive successfully since the 1980s without winter protection. In rougher areas it may be held only as a container plant. As ausgepflanzte outdoor plant it thrives in Southern Ireland and over is due to the climatic conditions of the local winter without problems.
Ingredients
In the fruit ( Fruct. Lauri ) essential and fatty oils are present. If the fruit is pressed and boiled, the result is a mixture that Oleum Lauri is called. It is colored green by chlorophyll and is an unctuous, melting at 36 ° C. Mass dar. Specifically, the fruit contains up to 30 % fatty oil, and about 1 % essential oil ( terpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols and ketones).
The leaf contains 1.3 % essential oils ( Ol Lauri folii ), in 45% cineole, 12% terpenes, 3-4 % sesquiterpenes, 3% methyl eugenol and further α - β and -pinene, phellandrene, linalool, geraniol and terpineol. Substances (G / O).
Use
The True laurel is used as a spice plant: the aromatic leaves of the laurel tree fit to soups, stews, meat dishes, but also to fish. They are used to flavor pickled cucumbers and herring, for brawn and Essigaromatisierung. Bay leaves are a component of the bouquet garni in French cuisine.
All over the world there are plants with aromatic leaves. Many of these are referred to as bay leaves, although they taste show with the laurel Real hardly similarity. These include the Indian laurel ( Cinnamomum tamala ), the West Indian bay ( Pimenta racemosa ), the Indonesian laurel ( Syzygium polyanthum ), the California laurel ( Umbellularia californica ) and the Mexican laurel ( Litsea glaucescens ). Most of these plants are used only in their region of origin.
Laurel fruit ( Fructus lauric ) were formerly used as antiparasitic agents, such as lice and mange mites, but are no longer used because of the frequent allergic contact dermatitis today. Furthermore Fruct is. Lauri prescribed in dairy cattle against udder disease.
Laurel oil is a buttery, greenish mass, which melts at about 30 ° C and is obtained by pressing the laurel fruits. It consists of about 95 per cent of fatty oil and 5 percent essential oil. Laurel oil is used medically to rub, helps with bruises, sprains and rheumatic complaints. In addition, the oil is used today use as a fragrance component in perfumery.
The True laurel, which, when enjoyed in larger amounts, to trance and altered consciousness. So is believed that the visions of the priestesses of the oracle of Delphi were influenced by the consumption of laurel. In the Middle Ages laurel was considered a cure for the plague. In addition, Laurel had a reputation to protect from magic and fire.
History
The origin of the botanical genus name for the tree (Laurus ) is unknown, however, recalls the ancient Greek name daphne ( δάφνη ) the fact that the nymph Daphne transformed into a laurel bush to escape the snares of Apollo. This worn as a sign of his grief over the unrequited love of a tortuous branches of laurel wreath.
In some languages of Southeast Europe and the Middle East, the Greek name of laurel was taken: Hebrew aley daphna ( עלי דפנה ), Turkish defne, dafinë Albanian, Bulgarian dafinov list ( дафинов лист ), Romanian dafin. In modern Greek, the name has already obtained ( δάφνη, pronunciation: dafni ).
When moving as a successful triumphant in the city of Rome the commander was crowned with laurel ( Corona Triumphalis ). With the transition to empire, the Roman emperors wore a laurel wreath, and later he also received winner at games. The laurel wreath is today a byword for a special award. He is regarded as a symbol of the glory of victory and peace. In Anglo-Saxon countries there is the official title of poet laureate ( " laurel -winning poet ").
The Silver Laurel Leaf, the highest sports award in Germany. It is awarded by the Federal President, and was originally founded by Theodor Heuss (1950).
Laurus nobilis is also named for the Laureus World Sports Awards, which is also regarded as a sports Oscar.