Crocus sativus L. – Monograph

  Order: Asparagales Link (APG IV), Liliales Perleb (Cronquist)Family: Iridaceae Juss.Tribe: Croceae   Crocus L. species are bulbous (generally provided with a corm1) or, occasionally, rhizomatous geophytes. Both spring-flowering (e.g., C. vernus (L.) Hill. C. biflorus Mill.) and autumn-flowering (C. sativus L., C. cartwrightianus Herb., C. longiflorus raf.) species exist. The former usually bloom in early spring (C. vernus flowers …

Vinca L. – Monograph

  Order: Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.PreslFamily: Apocynaceae Juss.Tribe: Vinceae According to some authors, the name Vinca derives from the Latin vincire (to tie), because of the thin and flexible stems, while according to others it derives from the verb vincere (to win), perhaps as an allusion to the ability of the herb to fight diseases or to withstand …

The Symbology of Crocus

Artemis and the maiden goddesses Britomartis, Diktynna, Aphea Britomartis (Greek: Βριτόμαρτις) or, more appropriately, Britomarpis1 was an ancient goddess who was primarily worshipped in Minoan Crete. Goddess of mountains and hunting, patroness of hunters, fishermen and sailors, she was sometime identified with the Aeginetan Aphaea (or Aphaia). According to some authors, she was also revered as Dictynna (Δίκτυννα).

Alnus – Monograph

Alnus Mill. – Genus Order: Fagales Engl.Family: Betulaceae GrayTribe: Alneae   The plants belonging to the Alnus genus (World Flora Online counts 46 accepted specie names [WFO]) are deciduous trees or shrubs. Widespread and abundant throughout much of the temperate world, they are sometimes considered weedy in many moister climates. Male inflorescences (catkins) are elongated and pendulous. Female inflorescences are …

Ulmus minor Mill. – Monograph

Ulmus L. – Genus Order: Rosales Bercht. & J.Presl (APG IV), Urticales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820 (Cronquist)Family: Ulmaceae Mirb.Tribe: Ulmeae According to World Flora Online, the genus Ulmus L. currently includes about 40 species of trees [WFO], which are generically called elms, mainly found in the temperate and tropical-mountain regions of Eurasia and North America.   Ulmus minor …

Polygonum aviculare – Monograph

  Polygonum L. – Genere   Order: Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl (APG IV), Polygonales (Cronquist) Family: Polygonaceae Juss. Tribe: Polygoneae   Polygonum aviculare L. Primary functionality: Saturn [Culpeper, Junius] Secondary functionality:   Nature: Cold in the 2.nd degree (or beginning of the 3.rd) and rather dry [Mattioli]Cold in the 1.st degree and dry in the 2.nd [Salmon] Taste: …

Paeonia L. – Monograph

Ordine: Saxifragales Bercht. & J.Presl Famiglia: Paeoniaceae Raf. Tribù: Paeonieae   The genus Paeonia, previously belonging to the Ranunculaceae family but now assigned to the Paeoniaceae family (of which it is the only genus), currently includes over thirty species (accepted names) (according to [WFO]). They are generally herbaceous plants provided with rhizomes and/or fleshy or swollen roots [WFO], even if …

Parietaria L. – Monograph

  Order: Rosales Bercht. & J.Presl Family: Urticaceae Juss. Tribe: Parietarieae   According to [WFO], 15 accepted species are currently recognized within the Parietaria genus. They are all herbs, annual or perennial, sparsely to densely pubescent with hairs on all parts of the plant. Though belonging to the Urticaceae family, they are not endowed with stinging trichomes. [WFO]

Ocimum basilicum L. – Monograph

  Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae   The genus Ocimum belongs to the family Lamiaceae, which includes most popular herbs/shrubs known for their medicinal properties and aroma profile. Due to the important morphological as well as chemical variability within the genus, its taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships are still debated. Moreover, the existence of chemotypes within single species increases the complexity to …