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36-468: A unique species of lavender named Lavandula stoechas was discovered here by Pedanius Dioscorides . With a combined area of 29 square kilometres (11 sq mi), the Îles d'Hyères consist of 43°00′36″N 6°24′16″E  /  43.01°N 6.4045°E  / 43.01; 6.4045 This Var geographical article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lavender Lavandula (common name lavender )

72-504: A glass of champagne. Lavender is used in savory dishes, giving stews and reduced sauces aromatic flair. It is also used to scent flans, custards, and sorbets. The flowers yield abundant nectar , from which bees make a high-quality honey . Monofloral honey is produced primarily around the Mediterranean Sea , and is marketed worldwide as a premium product. Flowers can be candied and are sometimes used as cake decorations . It

108-430: A heavy, soapy aftertaste. Chefs note to reduce by two-thirds the dry amount in recipes that call for fresh lavender buds. Lavender buds can amplify both sweet and savory flavors in dishes and are sometimes paired with sheep's milk and goat's milk cheeses. Lavender flowers are occasionally blended with black , green , or herbal teas . Lavender flavors baked goods and desserts, pairing especially well with chocolate. In

144-505: A noxious weed in Victoria since 1920. It is regarded as a weed in parts of Spain. Lavenders flourish best in dry, well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils in full sun. English lavender has a long germination process (14–28 days) and matures within 100–110 days. All types need little or no fertilizer and good air circulation. In areas of high humidity, root rot due to fungus infection can be a problem. Organic mulches can trap moisture around

180-696: Is a genus of 47 known species of perennial flowering plants in the mints family, Lamiaceae . It is native to the Old World , primarily found across the drier, warmer regions of mainland Eurasia , with an affinity for maritime breezes. Lavender is found on the Iberian Peninsula and around the entirety of the Mediterranean coastline (including the Adriatic coast , the Balkans ,

216-641: Is a species of lavender native to the Mediterranean Basin . The flower was first recorded by Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides as the name στοιχάς stoikhas coming from the Stoechades Islands , the Greek name became its specific epithet . The recognised subspecies are: It is an evergreen shrub that usually grows to between 30–100 centimetres (12–39 in) tall, but occasionally up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall in

252-424: Is also used as herbal filler inside sachets used to freshen linens. Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and to deter moths . Dried lavender flowers may be used for wedding confetti . Lavender is also used in scented waters , soaps , and sachets . The ancient Greeks called the lavender herb νάρδος: nárdos, Latinized as nardus , after

288-464: Is also used to make "lavender sugar". The German scientific committee on traditional medicine , Commission E , reported uses of lavender flower in practices of herbalism , including its use for restlessness or insomnia , Roemheld syndrome , intestinal discomfort, and cardiovascular diseases , among others. Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris . Lavender

324-611: Is commonly used for L. angustifolia , though some references say the proper term is "Old English lavender". The name "French lavender" may refer to either L. stoechas or to L. dentata . "Spanish lavender" may refer to L. pedunculata , L. stoechas , or L. lanata . The most common form in cultivation is the common or English lavender Lavandula angustifolia (formerly named L. officinalis ). A wide range of cultivars can be found. Other commonly grown ornamental species are L. stoechas , L. dentata , and L. multifida (Egyptian lavender). Because

360-475: Is listed as an ingredient in making a spiced wine, namely hippocras , in The Forme of Cury . Lavender was introduced into England in the 1600s. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I of England prized a lavender conserve (jam) at her table, so lavender was produced as a jam at that time, as well as used in teas both medicinally and for its taste. Lavender was not used in traditional southern French cooking at

396-404: Is more tender than common lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ), being less frost-resistant, but harsher and more resinous in its oils. Like other lavenders, it is associated with hot, dry, sunny conditions in alkaline soils . However, it tolerates a range of situations, though it may be short-lived. Hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F) ( USDA zones 8–10). The following cultivars have won

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432-754: Is tubular. The corolla is also tubular, usually with five lobes (the upper lip often cleft, and the lower lip has two clefts). Some 100 individual phytochemicals have been identified in lavender oil, including major contents of linalyl acetate (30–55%), linalool (20–35%), tannins (5–10%), and caryophyllene (8%), with lesser amounts of sesquiterpenoids , perillyl alcohols , esters , oxides , ketones , cineole , camphor , beta- ocimene , limonene , caproic acid , and caryophyllene oxide. The relative amounts of these compounds vary considerably among lavender species. Lavandula stoechas , L. pedunculata , and L. dentata were known in Roman times. From

468-421: Is used in traditional medicine and as an ingredient in cosmetics . The genus includes annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial plants, and shrub -like perennials, subshrubs or small shrubs. Leaf shape is diverse across the genus. They are simple in some commonly cultivated species; in other species, they are pinnately toothed, or pinnate , sometimes multiple pinnate and dissected. In most species,

504-486: Is usually English lavender, the most commonly used species in cooking ( L. angustifolia 'Munstead'). As an aromatic, it has a sweet fragrance with lemon or citrus notes. It is used as a spice or condiment in pastas, salads and dressings, and desserts. Their buds and greens are used in teas, and their buds, processed by bees, are the essential ingredient of a monofloral honey . Spanish nard ( Old French : "spykenard de spayn le pays" ), referring to L. stoechas ,

540-512: The 13th century , and is generally thought to derive from Old French lavandre , ultimately from Latin lavare from lavo (to wash), referring to the use of blue infusions of the plants for bathing. The botanic name Lavandula as used by Linnaeus is considered to be derived from this and other European vernacular names for the plants. The names widely used for some of the species, "English lavender", "French lavender" and "Spanish lavender" are all imprecisely applied. "English lavender"

576-626: The Levant , and coastal North Africa ), in parts of Eastern and Southern Africa and the Middle East , as well as in South Asia and on the Indian subcontinent . Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as ornamental plants for garden and landscape use, for use as culinary herbs , and also commercially for the extraction of essential oils . Lavender

612-507: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit :- The flowers are used in aromatherapy to prepare infusions and essential oils that contain ketones (d- camphor and d- fenchone ) and alcohols ( borneol and terpineol ). Since its introduction into Australia, it has become an invasive species , widely distributed within the continent. It has been declared a noxious weed in Victoria since 1920. It also

648-652: The Middle Ages onwards, the European species were considered two separate groups or genera, Stoechas ( L. stoechas , L. pedunculata , L. dentata ) and Lavandula ( L. spica and L. latifolia ), until Carl Linnaeus combined them. He recognised only five species in Species Plantarum (1753), L. multifida and L. dentata (Spain) and L. stoechas and L. spica from Southern Europe. L. pedunculata

684-492: The North American version. In the 21st century, lavender is used in many world regions to flavor tea, vinegar, jellies , baked goods, and beverages. For most cooking applications the dried buds, which are also referred to as flowers, are used. Lavender greens have a more subtle flavor when compared to rosemary . The potency of the lavender flowers increases with drying which necessitates more sparing use to avoid

720-495: The Syrian city of Naarda (possibly the modern town of Duhok , Iraq). It was also commonly called nard . The species originally grown was L. stoechas . During Roman times, flowers were sold for 100 denarii per pound , which was about the same as a month's wages for a farm laborer, or fifty haircuts from the local barber. Its late Latin name was lavandārius , from lavanda (things to be washed), from lavāre from

756-482: The United States, both lavender syrup and dried lavender buds are used to make lavender scones and marshmallows . Lavender buds are put into sugar for two weeks to allow the essential oils and fragrance to transfer; then the sugar itself is used in baking. Lavender can be used in breads where recipes call for rosemary. Lavender can be used decoratively in dishes or spirits, or as a decorative and aromatic in

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792-456: The cultivated forms are planted in gardens worldwide, they are occasionally found growing wild as garden escapes, well beyond their natural range. Such spontaneous growth is usually harmless, but in some cases, Lavandula species have become invasive . For example, in Australia, L. stoechas has become a cause for concern; it occurs widely throughout the continent and has been declared

828-413: The leaves are covered in fine hairs or indumentum , which normally contain essential oils. Flowers are contained in whorls , held on spikes rising above the foliage, the spikes being branched in some species. Some species produce colored bracts at the tips of the inflorescences . The flowers may be blue, violet, or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish. The sepal calyx

864-814: The major cultivated and commercial forms resided in the Stoechas and Spica sections. There were four species within Stoechas ( Lavandula stoechas , L. dentata , L. viridis , and L. pedunculata ) while Spica had three ( L. officinalis (now L. angustifolia ), L. latifolia and L. lanata ). She believed that the garden varieties were hybrids between true lavender L. angustifolia and spike lavender ( L. latifolia ). Lavandula has three subgenera: In addition, there are numerous hybrids and cultivars in commercial and horticultural usage. The first major clade corresponds to subgenus Lavandula , and

900-450: The plants tend to be easier to harvest. They yield a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor , which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance, regarded by some as of lower quality than that of English lavender. The US Food and Drug Administration considers lavender as generally recognized as safe for human consumption. The essential oil was used in hospitals during World War I . Culinary lavender

936-466: The plants' bases, encouraging root rot. Gravelly materials such as crushed rocks give better results. It grows best in soils with a pH between 6 and 8. Most lavender is hand-harvested, and harvest times vary depending on intended use. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that lavender is considered likely safe in food amounts, and that topical uses may cause allergic reactions . The NCCIH does not recommend

972-528: The pound. This Lavender or Nardus was called Asarum by the Romans, because it was not used in garlands or chaplets. It was formerly believed that the asp, a dangerous kind of viper, made Lavender its habitual place of abode, so that the plant had to be approached with great caution.' Lavandula stoechas Lavandula stoechas , the Spanish lavender or topped lavender (U.S.) or French lavender (U.K.),

1008-555: The second Fabricia . The Sabaudia group is less clearly defined. Within the Lavandula clade, the subclades correspond to the existing sections but place Dentatae separately from Stoechas , not within it. Within the Fabricia clade, the subclades correspond to Pterostoechas , Subnudae , and Chaetostachys . Thus the current classification includes 39 species distributed across 8 sections (the original 6 of Chaytor and

1044-520: The subspecies L. stoechas subsp. luisieri . Its leaves are 1–4 cm long, greyish and tomentose . The inflorescence is crowned by a mass of purple elongated ovoid bracts about 5 cm long. Lower flowers form a tight rectangle in cross-section. The upper of the five teeth has a wrong-heart-shaped appendage. The crown is blackish-violet, up to 8 mm long and indistinct two-lipped. The flowers , which appear in late spring and early summer, are pink to purple, produced on spikes 2 cm long at

1080-431: The top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long; each flower is subtended by a bract 4–8 mm long. At the top of the spike are a number of much larger, sterile bracts (no flowers between them), 10–50 mm long and bright lavender purple (rarely white). It blooms in spring and early summer, from the month of March in its native habitat, depending on the climate in which it grows. This species

1116-403: The turn of the 20th century. It does not appear at all in the best-known compendium of Provençal cooking, J.-B. Reboul's Cuisinière Provençale . French lambs have been allowed to graze on lavender as it is alleged to make their meat more tender and fragrant. In the 1970s, a blend of herbs called herbes de Provence was invented by spice wholesalers. Culinary lavender is added to the mixture in

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1152-496: The two new sections of Upson and Andrews ), in three subgenera (see table below). However, since lavender cross-pollinates easily, countless variations present difficulties in classification. This is based on the classification of Upson and Andrews, 2004. I. Subgenus Lavendula Upson & S.Andrews II. Subgenus Fabricia (Adams.) Upson & S.Andrews III. Subgenus Sabaudia (Buscal. & Muschl.) Upson & S.Andrews The English word lavender came into use in

1188-540: The use of lavender oil on skin. Commercially, the plant is grown mainly for the production of lavender essential oil. English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) yields an oil with sweet overtones and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandula × intermedia , also known as lavandin or Dutch lavender , hybrids of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia . are widely cultivated for commercial use since their flowers tend to be bigger than those of English lavender and

1224-519: The use of lavender while pregnant or breastfeeding because of lack of knowledge of its effects. It recommends caution if young boys use lavender oil because of possible hormonal effects leading to gynecomastia . A 2007 study examined the relationship between various fragrances and photosensitivity , stating that lavender is known "to elicit cutaneous photo-toxic reactions", but does not induce photohaemolysis . Some people experience contact dermatitis , allergic eczema , or facial dermatitis from

1260-598: The verb lavo (to wash). Since the late 19th century, lavenders and their color have been associated with the queer community . 'By the Greeks the name Nardus is given to Lavender, from Naarda, a city of Syria near the Euphrates, and many persons call the plant "Nard." St. Mark mentions this as Spikenard, a thing of great value. In Pliny's time, blossoms of the Nardus sold for a hundred Roman denarii (or L.3 2s. 6d.)

1296-626: Was included within L. stoechas . By 1790, L. pinnata and L. carnosa were recognised. The latter was subsequently transferred to Anisochilus . By 1826, Frédéric Charles Jean Gingins de la Sarraz listed 12 species in three sections, and by 1848 eighteen species were known. One of the first modern major classifications was that of Dorothy Chaytor in 1937 at Kew. The six sections she proposed for 28 species still left many intermediates that could not easily be assigned. Her sections included Stoechas , Spica , Subnudae , Pterostoechas , Chaetostachys , and Dentatae . However, all

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