Lavandula stoechas
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| Lavandula stoechas | |
|---|---|
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| Lavandula stoechas flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Lavandula |
| Species: | L. stoechas |
| Binomial name | |
| Lavandula stoechas L. |
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Lavandula stoechas (French lavender, Spanish lavender, Stoechas lavender, or topped lavender) occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region.
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[edit] Description
A perennial shrub, it usually grows to 30–100 cm tall and wide. The leaves are 1–4 cm long, greyish and tomentose.
The flowers are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes 2–3 cm long at the top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm 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).
[edit] Subspecies
Subspecies in wide cultivation include
- L. stoechas luisieri, which has petals much less interconnected, and
- L. stoechas pedunculata, the common type specific plant, once taxonomically considered L. pedunculata.
[edit] Medicinal uses
Flower spikes can be used internally for headaches, irritability, feverish colds and nausea, and externally used for wounds, rheumatic pain and as an insect repellent.[1]
[edit] Cultivation
This species is more fragile than common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), as it is less winter hardy; but harsher and more resinous in its oils. Stoechas lavender is used commercially in air fresheners and insecticides.
[edit] Invasive species
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. To control small patches, completely remove or cut off main roots near the base of the plant. Cutting or slashing the plant will only result in regrowth. Large areas are best ploughed in the spring.[2] It also is regarded as a weed in parts of Spain.[3]
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Wild L. stoechas
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Wild in Ceuta, Spain
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Subspecies pedunculata
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Subspecies luisieri
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Italy
[edit] References
- ^ Bown, Deni (2002 Revised Ed). The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. DK. pp. 257. ISBN 1-4053-0059-0.
- ^ Carr, G.W, Yugovic, J.V and Robinson, K.E.. `Environmental Weed Invasions in Victoria - conservation and management implications' 1992 Pub: Department of Conservation and Environment and Ecological Horticulture, Victoria, Australia
- ^ Csurches S., Edwards R.; National Weeds Program, Potential Environmental Weeds in Australia, Candidate Species for Preventative Control; Queensland Department of Natural Resources. January 1998 ISBN 0 642 21409 3
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