The Diptam (Dictamnus albus), also Aschwurz or burning shrubs mentioned, is belonged the only kind of the monotypical kind Diptam, it to the family of the lozenge plants (Rutaceae). This plant type stands since 1936 under nature protection, because it came already at that time only isolated into Europe forwards.

Description

Diptam is plant of several years and a krautige. It develops traubige bloom conditions in the early summer. The zygomorphen blooms are white, pink or lila and have long

The smell of the Diptam can be copied by mixture of vanilla and lemon flavour. The bloom time is in May and June. In this time the glands deliver sheets into so many ethereal oils that the plant can be smelled already from a distance. Thereby a combustible gas which gave its surnames to the plant, develops.

In the high summer the fruits mature near, which dry in the warm wind. The fruit bowls tear up, roll themselves in and centrifuges the pear-shaped, about 4 mm small seeds out. Since the Diptam grows only in groups, one can hear the common slamming of the blooms in the summer.

Spreading

The Diptam is resident in the northern Mediterranean area, in South-east Europe and in southern and central Central Europe. It grows preferentially in the clearing of warm-loving drying forests and bushes, particularly however at forest seams in the transition to drying lawns and estimates dry, kalkhaltige and nitrogen-poor soils in halfshady Lage.Da of the Diptam in the antiquity as welfare plant was already regarded, one very promptly with its cultivation in the garden began. In the Renaissance it was already a common garden plant. Today he is to be found rather rare in gardens, what is to due to its specific requirements for location.

Contents materials

The plant contains ethereal oils such as Bergapten, Fraxinellon, Pinen, Anethol, Estragol, Myrcen, Limonen, Cineal, of alkaloids such as Skimmianin, Fagrain and Dictamin, in addition Saponine, bitter materials, Anthocyane and Flavonglykoside.

Use in the Pflanzenheilkunde

The people medicine says fever-lowering, bactericidal as well as ejection-promoting effects to the plant after and uses a Tinktur won from the blooms and sheets as good Liniment against Rheumatismus.

Diptamrinde (root crust)

The root crust of the Diptam is as "“Diptamrinde"” admitted and is considered as strongly tonus-CH-provoking means. In particular against worms, change fever etc. carries out it good services.

Botani characteristics

A rare phenomenon is to be observed at the Diptam on extremely hot days, if it produces so much ethereal oil that it catches fire. This is explained by the fuel glass effect during droplet formation. In the dawn one can see small blue flames with zero wind and large heat at the plant. Due to this phenomenon it is accepted that Diptam is "„the burning shrubs "“in the Bible.

Diptam is a rare and endangered kind. Collecting of the plant and its parts is forbidden.

See also: List of the kitchen herbs and spices

Related links

• The Diptam - a poison plant

Articles in category "Diptam"

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