Lavandula angustifolia

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Lavandula angustifolia
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Lavandula angustifolia
Common Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Lavandula
Species: L. angustifolia
Binomial name
Lavandula angustifolia
Mill.[1]
Synonyms

Lavandula officinalis Chaix ex Vill.[1]
Lavandula pyrenaica DC.[1]
Lavandula vera DC.[1]

Lavandula angustifolia (lavender or English lavender, though not native to England; also common lavender, true lavender, narrow-leaved lavender), formerly L. officinalis, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the western Mediterranean, primarily the Pyrenees and other mountains in northern Spain.
Contents

1 Growth
2 Etymology
3 Cultivation
4 Cultivars
4.1 Dwarf cultivars
4.2 Semi-dwarf cultivars
4.3 Giant cultivars
5 Uses
5.1 Subspecies
5.2 Hybrids
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

Growth
Flower spike before the petals emerge
Calyx (purple) and flower bracts (light brown)
Calyx and corolla
Corolla (petals)
Calyx and corolla

It is a strongly aromatic shrub growing as high as 1 to 2 metres (3.3 to 6.6 ft) tall. The leaves are evergreen, 2–6 centimetres (0.79–2.4 in) long, and 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) broad. The flowers are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes 2–8 cm (0.79–3.1 in) long at the top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm (3.9–12 in) long.
Etymology

The species name angustifolia is Latin for "narrow leaf". Previously, it was known as Lavandula officinalis, referring to its medicinal properties.
Cultivation

English lavender is commonly grown as an ornamental plant. It is popular for its colourful flowers, its fragrance and its ability to survive with low water consumption. It does not grow well in continuously damp soil. It is fairly tolerant of low temperatures, generally considered hardy to USDA zone 5.[2] It tolerates acid soils but favours neutral to alkaline soils. In some conditions it can be short-lived.[3]
Cultivars

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

'Alba' ('Large White')[4]
'Beechwood Blue'[5]
'Hidcote'[6]
'Imperial Gem'[7]



'Loddon Blue'[8]
'Loddon Pink'[9]
'Miss Katherine'[10]
'Nana Alba'[11]



'Richard Gray'[12]
'Sawyers'[13]
'Sussex'[14]
'Wendy Carlile'[15]

Dwarf cultivars

Compacta, Folgate, Dwarf Blue, Dwarf White, Hidcote Pink, Hidcote Superior, Munstead, Nana Atropurpurea, Nana Rosea, Sarah, Summerland Surpreme, Lady Lavender

'Hidcote Superior', a compact evergreen shrub 16”x18” with fragrant gray-green foliage and deep violet-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well drained soil, low water, hardy to -20°F, western Mediterranean species
'Munstead' (syn. Dwarf Munstead, Munstead Blue and Munstead Variety) L. angustifolia variety, 12" tall, having pink-purple to lavender-blue inflorescences that are slightly fragrant,[16] named after Munstead Wood in Surrey, which was the home of Gertrude Jekyll
'Sarah', grows to 6-24 in, the flowers are petite, as is the plant, used as a short edging, or as a very fragrant addition to the window box, dark violet flowers
'Lady Lavendar', grows to 18 in, fragrant, gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers in summer, prefers full sun, well-drained soil, low water, hardy to –20°F

Semi-dwarf cultivars

Bowles Early, Hidcote Variety, Loddon Blue, Martha Roderick, Jean Davis, Twickle Purple, Pink Perfume

'Hidcote' (syn. Hidcote Variety, Hidcote Blue, Hidcote Purple) L. angustifolia variety. 15" to 20" tall, with silver-gray foliage and deep violet-blue inflorescences, named after Hidcote Manor in England as it was cultivated there by Major Lawrence Johnston
'Jean Davis' 20-24" tall, up to 3 ft. A pale pink flowered lavender with exceptionally fruity taste
'Pink Perfume' 24" x 18"

Giant cultivars

Alba, Blackhouse Purple, Biostos, Bridestowe, Graves, Gray Lady, Gwendolyn Anley, Hidcote Giant, Irene Doyle, Mailette, Middachten

'Hidcote Giant'. A Lavandula x intermedias lavandin. Very vigorous grower (36 - 40 inches) with a lovely strong fragrance. This has large deep Lavender-purple flowers on very long 24 inch stems.
'Vera' 30-36". Thought to be the original species lavender, harvested for its oil.

Uses
Dried Lavandulae flos as used in herbal teas

The flowers and leaves are used as an herbal medicine,[17] either in the form of lavender oil or as an herbal tea. The flowers are also used as a culinary herb, most often as part of the French herb blend called herbes de Provence.

Lavender essential oil, when diluted with a carrier oil, is commonly used as a relaxant with massage therapy. Products for home use, such as lotions, eye pillows (including lavender flowers or the essential oil itself) and bath oils, etc., are also used. Both the petals and the oil are the most popular ingredients in handmade soap.

Dried lavender flowers and lavender essential oil are also used as a prevention against clothing moths, which do not like their scent.[citation needed]
Subspecies

Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia[1]
Lavandula angustifolia subsp. pyrenaica[1]

Hybrids

Lavandula hybrids are referred to as lavandins. Hybrids between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia are called Lavandula x intermedia. They bloom later than the ordinary English lavendars.
See also

Xeriscaping
Lavender

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lavandula angustifolia
Wikiversity has bloom time data for Lavandula angustifolia on the Bloom Clock
References

^ a b c d e f "Lavandula angustifolia information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
^ USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. pp. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3369
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3362
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1125
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1126
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3363
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1127
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3364
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1128
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3366
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3367
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3370
^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3365
^ Ohio State University: Lavandula
^ "Plants for a Future".

External links
Two forms in a garden planting

Lavender fields in the Provence
Lavandula angustifolia List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)
Everything lavender

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Source: http://www.lavenderbeefarm.com/headache.shtml

Lavender Therapy for Migraine Headaches
Natural lavender can be a blessing when it comes to alternative migraine treatments.
Headaches are generally classed into four main categories, depending upon where the pain is located. A simple headache tends to occur at the crown of the head. Tension headaches are in the brow and cluster headaches occur around the eye. But perhaps the worst of these is the migraine headache which radiates from above the inner corner of the eyebrow outward and can be so intense that nausea, dizziness, impaired vision, severe fatigue and temporary disability result. Women tend to be more prone to migraines than men, but both sexes can suffer from them and a trip to the doctor can help you discover standard medical treatments for recurrent migraine headaches.


However, it is important to understand that pain in the body occurs for a reason. Just think about it. If a child breaks his arm, he needs that pain to happen so that he can tell an adult that the pain is there, so that the broken arm can be taken care of. In the same way, if you are suffering from recurrent headaches, your body is sending you a powerful signal that something is amiss. Stress, allergies, fatigue, dietary problems and a host of other factors can lead to migraines, and there is currently no medical 'cure' for them. So far, we have only discovered ways to cope with the pain. Pills and injections can mask the pain of a migraine, while not uncovering the cause, and if you're like us, you might want a more natural way to soothe the pain while you're trying to figure out the underlying cause. It is for this very reason that more and more people are turning to lavender in their attempts to cope with headaches naturally. Lavender has been prized for centuries for both culinary and medicinal purposes, and at Lavender Bee Farm, we'd like to share what we know about this herb with customers who are currently suffering from these nasty headaches.


I'd like to make special mention of women who suffer from 'menstrual headaches', almost on schedule, during a specific point of their cycle. If you are troubled with these, you know how awful they can be, and as the author of this article, I'd like to share with you how helpful I am finding lavender to be for the migraines I've experienced in connection with my cycle nearly all of my adult life. Lavender is something like a hero to me when it comes to this, and is especially helpful to me when a migraine is keeping me awake at night. I hope that the following suggestions will be really helpful to both men and women who suffer from any of the four kinds of headaches.


How to use lavender for your headache

Dried Lavender Buds Make a lavender pillow
If headaches are a frequent issue for you, having a lavender pillow on hand can be such a help. It's right there, ready to pick up whenever you need it, and you can make such a nice one, your little natural health aid doubles as a lovely home decor item. Lavender Bee Farm offers complete instructions for How To Make A Lavender Pillow here. We want to stress the importance of using pesticide and chemical-free lavender for your lavender headache pillow. Toxic substances will harm, not help, your health. You can certainly feel safe using our natural dried lavender for this reason. Depending upon the size of the pillow, you can either lie down with it behind your head, or rest across your face. I have found that inhaling the calming, herbal fragrance of the lavender really helps with my migraines. I lie in a darkened room, as comfortably as I can, and take slow deep breaths. It feels to me like the fragrance I breath in goes right up into my sinuses and brain, cooling and soothing, with each breath.


Make a quick lavender pouch
If you've just purchased some dried lavender buds with the intention of making a pillow, but haven't yet had the time and a migraine hits in, here's a helpful suggestion. Simply take a square of fabric, a scarf, a bandana, a cloth napkin or tea towel and lay it out flat. Pour a handful of lavender in the middle. Roll up the fabric like a toffee and secure either end with a rubber band. In just seconds you have a quick temporary lavender pouch which you can rest across your forehead or eyes, again, inhaling the scent to soothe your migraine.


Take a lavender bath
Moist heat is often prescribed to loosen stiff, achy muscles and relieve tension. Because so many headaches are tension-centered, a bath can bring relief to an achy head, too. When combined with lavender essential oil, you've discovered a potentially powerful weapon against your migraines. You can make up your own migraine bath oil as follows. Combine 5 drops of lavender essential oil with an emulsifier such as raw honey or olive oil. You can store this for many months in a cool, dry, dark place. Add about 1 tablespoon to the bath as you fill it. The lavender fragrance will rise up in the steam of the warm water, surrounding you with soothing vapors. Close your eyes and relax.


As you can see, the above natural headache remedies are simple as can be. In the past, before modern medicine had come to rely on drugs so completely, herbs, flowers and special foods were used to help sufferers cope with the pain of various ailments. Lavender water appeared in the medicine cabinets of many a family in those days, and when dealing with a condition for which we still haven't discovered a cure, a look back at the past can yield many helpful ideas which may have been forgotten along the way. Fortunately, the magnificent and versatile properties of the herb lavender have been too beloved to be overlooked, and at Lavender Bee Farm, we are doing our part to keep appreciation for lavender going strong!

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A Guide to Lavender : Starting a Lavender Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tzSHlHe9z4

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Dream Pillow - Restful Sleep

http://www.peacevalleylavender.com/catalog/product_16224_Dream_Pillow__Restful_Sleep_cat_252. html

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Natural Vanilla Lavender Room Spray - Sweet Slumber

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64154223/natural-vanilla-lavender-room-spray

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