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| Aloysia citrodora Paláu |
Lemon verbena or Lemon beebrush (syn. Aloysia triphylla[1]) is a deciduous perennial shrub native to Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru. This plant was brought to Europe by the Spanish in the 17th century. It grows to a height of 1 to 3 metres and exudes a powerful lemony scent. It prefers full sun, a lot of water, and a light loam soil, and is sensitive to cold. The light green leaves are lancet-shaped, and its tiny flowers bloom lavender or white in August or September.
Lemon verbena leaves are used to add a lemony flavour to fish and poultry dishes, vegetable marinades, salad dressings, jams, puddings, and beverages. It also is used to make herbal teas and can make a refreshing sorbet. In addition, it has anti-Candida albicans activity.[2]
The major isolates in lemon verbena oil are citral (30-35%), nerol and geraniol. [3]
Lemon verbena is also classified as Verbena triphylla L'Hér., Verbena citriodora Cav., Lippia triphylla, Lippia citriodora, and Aloysia citriodora (Cav.) Ort.
In the Little House on the Prairie episode "Country Girls," we learn that Miss Beadle wears the scent of lemon verbena [4].
References
- ^ Armada, J. & A. Barra. 1992. On Aloysia Palau (Verbenaceae). Taxon 41:88–90.
- ^ "Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants" (abstract), TEIXEIRA DUARTE Marta Cristina et al, Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2005, vol. 97, no2, pp. 305-311
- ^ Lawless, J., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, ISBN 1-85230-661-0
- ^ http://www.tv.com/little-house-on-the-prairie/country-girls/episode/57166/summary.html
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 26 September 2008, at 18:42.
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