Santolina chamaecyparissus

Santolina chamaecyparissus
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Genus: Santolina
Species: S. chamaecyparissus
Binomial name
Santolina chamaecyparissus
L.
Synonyms

Santolina marchii Arrigoni
Source: IPNI,[1] UniProt[2] E+M[3]

Santolina chamaecyparissus syn. S. incana (cotton lavender, lavender-cotton[4]) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the western and central Mediterranean.

Nomenclature

The specific epithet chamaecyparissus literally means "like Chamaecyparis" (cypress), though it is not closely related to that plant.[5] Nor is it closely related to either cotton or lavender, despite its common name "cotton lavender".

Description

It is a small evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall and broad. Densely covered in narrow, aromatic, grey-green leaves, in summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like composite flowerheads, held on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular, and there are no ray florets.[6]

Cultivation

This plant is valued in cultivation as groundcover, or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. It dislikes winter wetness.

Numerous cultivars have been produced, of which 'Nana', a dwarf form growing to 25 cm (10 in), has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7]

Uses

Cotton lavender has many potential uses. Most commonly, the flowers and leaves are made into a decoction used to expel intestinal parasites. An oil used in perfumery can also be extracted from the plant. Branches may be hung up in wardrobes to repel insects, and leaves are also suitable for use in pot pourri and in herbal tobacco substitutes. In cosmetics it is used as a tonic.[8]

Pathogens

Photo Gallery

References

  1. ↑ International Organization for Plant Information (IOPI). "Plant Name Search Results" (HTML). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  2. ↑ UniProt. "Species Santolina chamaecyparissus". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  3. ↑ Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem. "Details for: Santolina chamaecyparissus". Euro+Med PlantBase. Free University of Berlin. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  4. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  6. ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  7. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Nana'". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Carrasco, F. (2009). "Ingredientes Cosméticos". Diccionario de Ingredientes\ 4ª Ed. www.imagenpersonal.net. p. 509. ISBN 978-84-613-4979-1.
  9. ↑ Álvarez, L. A.; Pérez-Sierra, A.; León, M.; Armengol, J.; García-Jiménez, J. "Lavender cotton root rot: a new host of Phytophthora tentaculata found in Spain". American Phytopathological Society.

External links


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