The habit and bloom of the woodruff
The plant Galium odoratum, also known as Maywort, not only has a very special aroma, but also looks quite attractive. The plant, which grows to a maximum height of about 30 centimeters, forms in sparse forests often extensive carpets as they stretch over the Self-sowing the seeds and about their plexus of roots increased. This also makes this medicinal herb a popular ground cover for particularly shady places in the garden. On the thin, square stems of the woodruff, the lance-shaped, narrow leaves are arranged in a circular whorl shape on different levels. During the Heyday From around mid-April to mid-May you can recognize the woodruff even more easily by its many white ones blossomsthat are shaped like small crosses.
also read
- Collect woodruff and use it properly
- Woodruff himself propagate and harvest
- When is the heyday of woodruff?
The woodruff's smell and taste
The typical smell and taste of the woodruff was or is traditionally used for the following products, for example:
- May punch
- Woodruff lemonade.
- green wackling peter
- Woodruff shower
- Berliner Weisse
Although it is noticeable on the fresh stems, the smell becomes more intense after a short time Dry phase from one to two days. So if you are not entirely sure about a plant population in the forest, you can first let a few stems wither and then, if necessary, larger quantities of the relevant one Locationcollect.
Healing effects and poison potential of woodruff
Woodruff has been mentioned as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages, which is mainly due to the coumarin contained in its stems and leaves. The consumption of certain amounts of woodruff should not only fight headaches, but also be digestive and antispasmodic. However, it has been used in children's confectionery and lemonades in Germany for some time Banned for decades, since excessive consumption in large quantities leads to permanent liver damage should lead. In the short term, headaches, malaise and vomiting can also occur in the event of an overdose.
Tips & Tricks
To avoid overdosing the coumarin that splits up during drying, you should only pour over the woodruff for the production of maypole and not soak it.
WK