I.138
Lavandula angustifolia Mill. – Common lavender, true lavender, narrow-leaved lavender
Distribution, habitats
This perennial semishrub is native to the Mediterranean region. In Hungary, its varieties can be cultivated on protected southern slopes.
Morphology
Lavender’s root system is fairly shallow, the taproot is woody. The shoot system is spherical, woody at the bottom part, growing up to 40-60 cm tall. The decussate leaves are narrow linear to narrow lanceolate. The inflorescence is a terminal, intermittent pseudo-spike. The calyx is greyish blue, with hardly visible lobes; the bilabial corolla is blue to purplish blue. Flowers bloom from the middle of June. The fruits are ovate nutlets, which develop from the ovary with 4 locules.
Drug
Lavandulae flos – Lavender flower(Ph. Eur. 5.0), Lavandulae aetheroleum – Lavender oil (Ph. Eur. 5.0)
Phytochemistry
1-3% essential oil (30-55% linalil acetate, 20-35% linalool, ocimen, cineol, camphor, etc.), sesquiterpenes (e.g. caryophyllene epoxide), 5-10% Labiatae tannins (especially esters of rosmarinic acid), coumarin, flavonoids
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.139
Active compounds of Lavandulae flos – Lavender flower Uses
mild sedative, spasmolytic, carminative. External use: evaporation, relaxing aromatic bath, insect repellent. It is used in the perfume industry and aromatherapy, as well.
OH
O OH
OH
α-terpyneol camphor borneol linalool
Characters of Plants
157
Leonurus cardiaca L. – Motherwort Lamiaceae – Mint family
I.140
Leonurus cardiaca L. – Motherwort Distribution, habitats
It is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It occurs sporadically in weed associations and uncultivated lands. It can be cultivated. Its hairy subspecies (L. c. ssp. villosus Desf. = L. quinquelobatus Gilib.), which occurs sporadically in East Hungary, to the east of the river Tisza, is also worth gathering or cultivating due to its higher yield.
Morphology
A rhizomatous taproot can be found below-ground. The shoot can grow up to 1 m. The stem is quadrangular and hairless (L. c. ssp. cardiaca) or pubescent (L. c. ssp. villosus).
The leaves are decussate, petiolate, palmately cleft or segmented, with serrate margin.
The inflorescence comprises pseudowhorls of 8 to 10 flowers. The sepal lobes are puncheon-shaped and hooked; the corolla is pink, longer than the calyx and hirsute on its outer surface. The flowering period lasts from June to July.
Drug
Leonuri cardiacae herba – Motherwort(Ph. Eur. 5.0)
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Phytochemistry
iridoids (ajugol, ajugoside, leonurid), diterpene (marrubiin), furanolabdane diterpene (leosibirin), flavonoids, phenol-carboxylic acids, essential oil (mono- and sesquiterpenes) in traces, nitrogen-containing compounds (leonurine)
I.141
Active compound of Leonuri cardiacae herba - Motherwort Uses
mild sedative, spasmolytic, antihypertensive, against cardiac symptoms associated with neurosis, and sleep disorders
OH
O O
O
marrubiin
Characters of Plants
159
Linum usitatissimum L. – Flax, Linseed Linaceae – Flax family
I.142
Linum usitatissimum L. – Flax, Linseed Distribution, habitats
It is an annual plant with eastern Mediterranean origin. Cultivated flax varieties are valued for their high fiber and/or oil content.
Morphology
The taproot is spindle-shaped. The stem is about 1 m tall. The leaves are alternate and slender lanceolate. The sky blue flowers cluster into a loose cyme. Flax is in flower in June. The sepals are ovate, the petals are obovate. In the originally 2-whorled androecium the inner stamens have changed to nectariferous staminodes. The pistil consists of 5 carpels, developing into a dehiscent or indehiscent capsule, holding glossy, brown, 4-mm-long seeds.
Drug
Lini semen – Linseed (Ph. Eur. 5.0), Lini oleum virginale –Linseed oil, virgin (Ph. Eur.
5.0)
Phytochemistry
3-19% heteropolysaccharides as mucilage, 25% crude fiber, 30-45% fatty oil, 25%
protein, sterols, triterpenes, 0.1-1.5% cyanogenic glycoside (linustatin, neolinustatin and their aglycones lotaustralin and linamarin), lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, lignan pinoresinol diglucoside
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.143
Active compounds of Lini semen – Linseed Uses
mild laxative (the seeds should be taken with plenty of water); the oil is used to soften and protect dry skin, against eczema and furuncles, to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, boost the immune system and prevent cancer (probably due to its lignans, which have oestrogen-like effects). The poultice prepared from linseed powder (linseed meal) can alleviate burn injuries; slightly enhances blood circulation, softens the skin and alleviates rheumatic pain.
C C CN H3
O glü CH2
C H3
C C CN H3
C H3
O
lotaustralin linamarin
β – glucose
Characters of Plants
161
Lycopodium clavatum L. – Wolf’s foot club moss Lycopodiaceae – Club moss family
I.144
Lycopodium clavatum L. – Wolf’s foot club moss Distribution, habitats
It is a circumpolar, perennial, herbaceous pteridophyte. In Hungary it occurs sporadically in the mountains, in acidophilous beech and oak forests, heaths with birch trees and young spruce forests. In Hungary it is protected, and it is becoming rare in other parts of Europe, as well. Larger stands can be found in China.
Morphology
The roots are dichotomously branched, similarly to the prostrate shoots that can reach 30 to 70 cm or sometimes even 2 m in length. The small leaves (mircophylls) cover the stem in a scale-like fashion; their shape is lanceolate and taper to a fine hair-like white point. The erect shoots bear the sporophyllums arranged in spikes, the sporangia hold pale yellow spores that become mature and are shed in July and August.
Drug
Lycopodii herba – Wolf’s foot club moss shoot, Lycopodii spora – Club moss spores Phytochemistry
0.1-0.4% quinolizidine alkaloid (e.g. lycopodine, clavatine, lycodoline), about 0.2%
flavonoid (derivatives of apigenin and chrysoeriol), triterpenes; in the spores fatty oils and sterols
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.145
Active compound of Lycopodii herba - Wolf’s foot club moss shoot Uses
traditionally used as diuretic and emmenagogue. Spores have been used as powder.
Internal use requires caution due to its toxic property, nonetheless it is used to quit smoking and drinking alcohol. The shoots are traditionally used against back pain.
Homoeopathy.
lycopodine
N O
Characters of Plants
163
Lythrum salicaria L. – Purple loosestrife Lythraceae – Loosestrife family
I.146
Lythrum salicaria L. – Purple loosestrife Distribution, habitats
This plant is native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean region, but it was introduced to North America, as well. In Hungary, it is widespread living in wetlands, marshes, wet meadows and river banks. One of its cultivars (’Morden Pink’) is a popular ornamental plant blooming in September.
Morphology
It is an about 1-m-tall rhizomatous perennial plant. The quadrangular stem is hairless or slightly pubescent. The 5-15 cm long lanceolate leaves have an entire margin. The leaf base of the sessile leaves is obtuse or cordate with protruding leaf-veins on the abaxial surface. The lower stem-leaves are arranged opposite or in whorls of three, the middle and upper leaves are alternate or opposite. The erect flowers form an elongated terminal spike which can be longer than 10 cm. Floral bracts are ovate (egg-shaped), small and pubescent. The 4-7-mm-long calyx is pubescent, consists of 6 sepals bearing 6 small, triangular teeth alternating with 6 large acute teeth at least half as long as the tube. The large teeth are twice as long as the short ones. The polypetalous corolla consists of 6 lanceolate, 6-12-mm-long purple (rarely white) petals. The number of stamens is 12.
This plant provides an example for trimorphic heterostyly, we can distinguish long-, medium-, and short-styled forms. The ovary is superior. The fruit is a 3-6-mm-long capsule surrounded by a persistent calyx.
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Drug
Lythri herba – Loosestrife (Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
5-12% tannin (gallotannins), phenol-carboxylic acids, flavon-C-glycosides, in the flower malvidin and cyanidin glycosides
I.147
Active compound of Lythri herba – Loosestrife Uses
astringent, antidiarrhoeal, hemostyptic; homoeopathy.
isoorientin
O OH CH2OH
O H
O H
OH O
O
OH O
H OH
Characters of Plants
165
Majorana hortensis L. (syn.: Origanum majorana L.) – Marjoram
Lamiaceae – Mint family
I.148
Majorana hortensis L. (syn.: Origanum majorana L.) – Marjoram Distribution, habitats
It is an annual herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region and Western Asia, and cultivated in many places.
Morphology
The root system is allorhizous, the shoots are 30 to 40 cm long and greyish green due to the rich coverage of hairs. The leaves are opposite, round to ovate. The branches bear dense terminal pseudowhorls of flowers. The small whitish or purplish flowers emerge slightly from the obtuse bracts. The flowering period lasts from July to August. The fruits are dark brown nutlets, from which only 1 or 2 mericarps become mature.
Drug
Majoranae herba – Marjoram flowering shoot Phytochemistry
0.5-1.3% essential oil (sabinene, pinene, terpineol, carvacrol, etc.), about 10% Labiatae tannins (rosmarinic acid)
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.149
Active compounds of Majoranae herba – Marjoram flowering shoot Uses
carminative, mild sedative, externally against rheumatism; spice, its essential oil is used in perfume industry
O H
COOH
ursolic acid oleanolic acid
Characters of Plants
167