French Lavender
by Barbara McMahon
Title
French Lavender
Artist
Barbara McMahon
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Lavandula (common name Lavender) is a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found from Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia to southeast India. 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.
"English lavender" is commonly used for L. angustifolia, though some references say the proper term is "Old English Lavender".Commercially the plant is grown mainly for the production of essential oil of lavender. This has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. These extracts are also used as fragrances for bath products.
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) yields an essential oil with sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandin, Lavandula � intermedia (also known as Dutch lavender), yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor, which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance.Lavender lends a floral and slightly sweet flavour to most dishes, and is sometimes paired with sheep's-milk and goat's-milk cheeses. For most cooking applications the dried buds (also referred to as flowers) are used, though some chefs experiment with the leaves as well. Only the buds contain the essential oil of lavender, from which the scent and flavour of lavender are best derived.
In the United States, both lavender syrup and dried lavender buds are used to make lavender scones and marshmallows.
The essential oil was used in hospitals during World War I.
Lavender is used extensively with herbs and aromatherapy. Infusions are believed to soothe insect bites, burns, and headaches. Bunches of lavender repel insects. In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and relaxation. An infusion of flower heads added to a cup of boiling water is used to sooth and relax at bedtime. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is used to treat acne when diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions. Thank you for viewing. Barbara McMahon
Uploaded
July 11th, 2013
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Viewed 602 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/24/2024 at 1:43 PM
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Comments (8)
Nikolyn McDonald
Lovely, natural, springlike feel. Congratulations on your 2nd place win in the recent Medicinal plants and flowers contest.
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you Nikolyn for your very kind comment. I value your input very much.