Beskrivelse

This dense, richly branched and thorny shrub can grow up to 3 meters high and blooms from March to April. The small, white and fragrant flowers appear before the leaves. Normally sitting flowers singly on short stalks, but since the flowers sitting so close and covers the entire branch length, it seems that the whole shrub is covered in white. In May, after the flowers have emerged, developed the oval, serrated leaves. In late summer follows the small, blue-black and plum-like fruits that have a green, sour pulp. These stone fruits have a diameter of 1 cm and can only be eaten after a few frosts. The thorns are otherwise transformed side shoots.

Blackthorn likes sunny hills and dry, light deciduous with calcareous and deep soils. Together with other plants in the rose family forms the often impenetrable bramble bush. The lyselskende blackthorn is particularly resistant to pests and crop. The shrub can quickly colonize flat ground and spreads by seeds through mammals and birds, as well as using suckers. Even on windy places defy the forces of nature. So it is not surprising that blackthorn was the first that was used to stabilize slopes and dry slopes, develop greenery of slag heaps and waste, as well as wind and snow protection. Taking into that bush is valued as a honey plant, it is not far from a perfect shrub.

Despite blackthorn strong proliferation capability has

plant largely disappeared from the field landscape as a result of modern farming methods which less soil areas is inconvenient. Only recent ecological research has demonstrated the utility of nest on agriculture and justified why they should be protected.

Anvendelse

Blackthorn medical effects is astringent (astringent), mild diuretic, slightly laxative and anti-inflammatory. A decoction made of dried flowers are used to purify the blood by skin diseases and rheumatic ailments, as well as a gargle for minor inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth and throat. Puree or jam made of blackthorn berries used against appetite.

Verdt å vite

Any person who is trying to get through a slåpetornbusk will quickly realize how the Latin name "spinosa" (thorny) comes from. The alternate common name "sloe" is of Germanic origin (from old High German "slêha"), and is probably related to the gammelbulgarske name "Sliva" and the Latin word "lividus" which means "bluish". The name "blackthorn" is thus a reference from bushes blue fruits.

Blackthorn had very early a meaning for people, and was already known in the Neolithic. Archeological excavations of Neolithic pælebyggsbosetninger was found stones from blackthorn. Arabs, Greeks, Romans and the people in the Middle Ages used the flowers and fruits such as pharmaceuticals and food. Asclepiades and Andromachus such as praising a thickened sap of slåpetornsfrukter as an effective remedy for dysentery. The solid wood of the undemanding blackthorn was formerly used in agriculture. From the bark was prepared a transparent, varnish-like, light and water-resistant ink, while from the fruits and bark produced respectively red and reddish brown dyes for dyeing of wool and linen. The ancient Germans also knew about blackthorn protective effect. Along with hawthorn bush was used in the first hagehekkene which protected apple trees and herbs from different wild. The Indo-European word "gher" which means "capture" evolved otherwise the word "ghortos" which literally means "enclosed, locked".

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Thus it was the fence that gave the garden its name, ie braided fence or the protective hedge that encloses a piece of land around the house wall. Some places also thought that blackthorn could protect against sorcery and had the ability to predict the future. Branches of blackthorn was used as incense in honor of St. Odile, and on Walpurgis Night was used as incense along with juniper and wine route. The peasants followed the rest two sayings that applied blackthorn blossom:

"If the sloe white as snow, ist's time that you sow the barley". (Hvis he snön hvit som slåpetorn he tiden held for å så bygg - red.)

"The earlier in April the flowering blackthorn, the earlier before Jakobi glows the harvest." (Jo tidligere slåpetornen blomstrer i april, the tidligere kan bøndene Hoste i år -. Red.)

Blackthorn provides a rich set table for many animals.
The lush flowers are a welcome place for early insects, as many wild bees (sand bees, cuckoo bees and others), bumblebees, beetles and flies. The leaves, which developed later, is especially popular among caterpillars, such as the swallowtail butterfly and Brown Hairstreak, and the tiny, endangered peacock spinner. Especially popular they are among the social spin turbines that builds silky tent in the branches and are sometimes so many that the whole slåpetornsbestander eaten up. Birds have their nest in blackthorn, such as tornskaten and

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Yellowhammer live in El Dorado. For birds and mice that depends on berries in winter, is the thorny bush both an invaluable pantry and a survival guarantee.

Today one can still blackthorn fruits for making hot drinks on cold winter evenings. Warm slåpesirup makes it nice inside when snow FØYK out while jellies and jams are vitamin rich delicacies.

Within folk medicine has blackthorn also has its own fascinating use. In Tirol in Austria attach the plant in western chest to stop the jaundice. In some areas you eat three slåpetornsstilker three consecutive times to protect against fever and gout.

Planten sett på en annen måte

In early spring, before the young shoots and leaves begin to come, surround blackthorn with a brilliant white flowers. But it is not until later in the year, with the first frost, the fruit ripens and becomes sweet. It is therefore only hesitantly that blackthorn showcases its vital forces. The flowers that have flourished throughout the winter helps the human organism to get through the winter and adapt metabolism spring.

Planten i våre produkter

The life force found in fruits seems invigorating by exhaustion. And it is these characteristics that appear in Dr. Hauschka skin care products.

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