Aloysia citriodora
| ENG | lemon verbena, lemon beebrush |
| SK | Alojzia citrónová |
| CZ | aloisie, citronová verbena |
| PL | Lippia trójlistna |
| HU |
Taxonomic characteristic
Order: Lamiaceae, Family: Verbenaceae, Genus: Aloysia
Using
Native to South America, more specifically Argentina and Chile. Within a cultivated and semi-wild state it can be found across the Mediterranean region, as well as Kenya and China. The leaves and the flowering tops are used to make medicine (for digestive disorders including indigestion, gas, colic, diarrhoea, and many other) In culinary (in the form of a flavouring agent to add essence to salads, fruit salads and other item), manufacturing, lemon verbena is used as an ingredient in herbal teas, as a fragrance in perfumes, and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages. The essential oil obtained from lemon verbena is an effective insecticide.
Botanical charakteristic
Aloysia citriodora is also known as Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora, Lippia triphylla, Verbena Citrodora, Verbena triphylla or Lemon verbena.
Lemon verbena is a deciduous woody shrub with a strong lemon aroma, which grows up to a height of two to three meters. The light green leaves are about 8 cm long, lanceolate, with pointed margins that are slightly toothed or toothless and fringed with hairs. The short stalks are 4 to 8 cm long, 4 to 2 cm wide, and arranged in three or four whorls. The many small flowers are pale purple, blooming during August in slim, terminal panicles. Calyx is toothed in spikes or racemes from the leaf axis.
Why to have the plant in your garden:
Where not winter hardy, it is grown in containers that may be overwintered indoors in bright, cool locations with minimal watering (plants lose leaves indoors) or as an annual that is replaced with new plants each spring.
Aloysia citriodora contains a substance that might kill mites and bacteria. You may use aloysia citriodora flower tops to prepare floral vinegar and apply it to your skin to make the skin fresh and soft. Leaves and flowers can be used both fresh and dried.
Text:
Ing. Ján Farkaš, SUA, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Photo:
Dr. Ivana Mezeyová, SUA, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Links to scientific articles
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a504
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/herbs/lemon-verbena
http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_lemon_ver.htm
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/verlem05.html
