MEDICINAL PLANTS

The samphire is a herbaceous plant equipped and flexible stem creeping rhizome, little branched, striate, glaucous green. Both the stem and the branches terminate in an inflorescence umbel composed of white or yellow-green. The fruit is ovoid, with thick walls and fluffy. The leaves have strong flavor, somewhat salty flavor reminiscent of celery. One grows on rocks and rocky coastal areas, both in the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

FLOWERING

Flowers to August and fruits mature in autumn. Interesting collection of leaves that are green like the stem and the stem are dilated, like a sheath.

APPLICATIONS

Both the leaves and stem and the fruit forms the essence of samphire, being in the Mediterranean species which are found in greater quantity. The composition of this substance differs greatly from one variety to another and also varies depending on the species that is harvested and even the organ where collected. It is also a plant rich in vitamin C. Popularly considered antiscorbutic plant, widely used by people from the sea always wore on his long voyages, preserved in a marinade of salt and vinegar. Exercises used in this way also an appetite stimulant and digestive. It also has a diuretic effect. Catalonia is widely used in sheet fennel: the preserve as we noted above, having it throughout the year, either in salad or added to certain dishes. The essence of fennel is very fragrant and used in perfumery, apart from its use pharmacist properly. It contains pinene, eugenol, carvacrol and dilapiol. Are often added to certain foods to aid digestion.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. From the leaves. You take a handful of them and added to a cup of boiling water. They take 2 to 3 cups a day.
Salad. As we noted in the applications, fennel leaves are picked when at its best is marinated in vinegar and prepared them exquisite salads. It is a nonpoisonous plant, so it can be used in a thousand ways. The only precaution to be taken is not to be confused when it comes to harvesting.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Umbelliferae
HABITAT: Rocky shore
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Sheets
CASTILIAN: Perejil de mar
CATALAN: Fenoll marí
GALICIAN: Fiuncho do mar

USES

Moderate antiscorbutic, Digestive Moderate, Mild diuretic.