Cedronella

Cedronella canariensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Cedronella; Moench
Species:	C. canariensis
Binomial name
	Cedronella canariensis; (L.) Webb & Berthel.
Synonyms
	Brittonastrum triphyllum (Moench) Lyons; Cedronella madrensis M.E.Jones; Cedronella triphylla Moench; Dracocephalum balsamicum Salisb. nom. illeg.; Dracocephalum canariense L.; Dracocephalum ternatifolium Stokes;

Cedronella is a genus of flowering plants in the Mentheae tribe of family Lamiaceae, comprising a single species, Cedronella canariensis, native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. It is also naturalized in various places (South Africa, St. Helena, New Zealand, California).^[2] Common names include Canary Islands-balm,^[3] Canary balm, and Balm-of-Gilead.^[4]

It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 1-1.5 m tall. The distinctive feature of these plants is the compound leaves consisting of 3 leaflets, unusual in the Lamiaceae, which usually have simple leaves. The leafy stems terminate in dense, short spikes of flowers with tubular 2-lipped white or pink flowers.

The genus name is a diminutive of Cedrus, though the only connection between this herb and the large conifers of Cedrus is a vaguely similar resinous scent of the foliage.

Cultivation

Grown outdoors in mild climates, these perennials need protection in a sunny position in the herb garden and moist, well-drained soil. In cool climates they can be grown in a sunny conservatory. Water freely in the growing season. Propagate from seed or from cuttings.

References

^ "The Plant List".
^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
^ USDA GRIN entry for Cedronella canariensis
^ Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. New York: Macmillan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

David Bramwell and Zoë Bramwell. Wild Flowers of the Canary Islands. Editorial Rueda, Madrid, España. 2001. ISBN 84-7207-129-4
J. R. Press and M. J. Short. Flora of Madeira. Natural History Museum, UK. 1994. ISBN 0-11-310017-5

External links

Genera of Lamiaceae tribe Mentheae on www.ars-grin.gov

This Lamiaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "The Plant List".

[2] Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

[3] USDA GRIN entry for Cedronella canariensis

[4] Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. New York: Macmillan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]