Rosemary

Description

Woody shrub, evergreen, native to the Mediterranean basin.

Stem

Erect or often prostrate at the base and then ascending; it is much branched; from the second year of life the lower part of the trunk has a bark that peels off in dark brown longitudinal strips.

Leaves

Small, resinous and needle-like; dark green on the upper surface, which is glossy and has its edges turned downwards, and whitish on the lower surface, slightly velvety. Sessile and clustered on the youngest twigs, they are arranged in pairs at the nodes.

Flowers

Small, either blue or light violet depending on the species; they blossom at various times of the year according to the climate.

Fruits

Composed of four small, oily, brown seeds, enclosed at the bottom of the persistent calyx.

Exposure

Sunny: the plant needs warmth and light to produce in abundance the essential oil that constitutes its active medicinal principle. Protect from cold winds: in cold places grow it in a large pot: place it outdoors in open ground in summer and bring it back into a greenhouse or a sunny room in winter.

Propagation

Sow in spring in a greenhouse and in summer outdoors in well-drained soil: in calcareous soils the plant is smaller but more fragrant. Germination is difficult: it propagates better by cuttings or air layering.

Harvesting

Grown so that it can be used in small quantities throughout the year, for drying, pick the fresh twigs in summer or before flowering.

Storage

Let the fresh twigs dry quickly in the shade; remove the leaves before storing them in glass or porcelain containers; to restore the aroma to the dried leaves, chop them just before use.

Properties

Flavouring, aperitive, digestive, antispasmodic, diuretic, balsamic, antiseptic, rubefacient, stimulant. IN THE KITCHEN: The flower is used to flavour salads, and the fresh or dried leaves are added to numerous dishes, especially pork or veal and mixed baked vegetables. The twigs, burnt on the barbecue, keep insects away from it. It is also used in desserts: candied, powdered with sugar and with custard, added to fruit salad, or for making liqueurs.

Beauty

Thanks to its tonic properties and its stimulating effect on the circulation, it is used in the preparation of cleansers, creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and scalp rinses.

Health

Taken internally, rosemary has digestive properties, antispasmodic and carminative: it stimulates diuresis and perspiration, regulates the menstrual cycle, thins bronchial secretions, soothes convulsive coughs; used externally it is effective against rheumatic and arthritic pain.

Curiosity

The Latin name is ROS MARINUS, which would seem to mean “rose or dew of the sea”; in reality it derives from Greek, from the terms RHOPS, meaning “shrub”, and MYRINOS, meaning “aromatic”. Rosemary is one of the best-known aromatic plants, known and widely used in cooking and as a medicinal plant since the times of the Greeks and Romans. It is said to have been reputed to strengthen the memory, and for this reason it was considered a symbol of fidelity for lovers and used as an ornament for the crowns worn by brides during wedding ceremonies. A legend tells that a rosemary bush gave shelter to the Virgin Mary during the flight into Egypt, and because she hung her cloak on the plant, its little white flowers turned blue. Aromatic rosemary plants were a must in the rich medieval kitchen gardens, and from the 17th century it was also used as an ornamental plant, artistically clipped according to taste. Its therapeutic properties have also been recognised since the most ancient times: the dried twigs were burnt in sickrooms to purify the air, and fresh twigs were hung in courts of law to protect against “gaol fever”; during plague epidemics it was customary to put a few twigs in the handles of walking sticks and in pockets so as to be able to sniff them when passing through infected or suspect areas. Even today in some Mediterranean countries it is customary to leave the washing to dry on rosemary, so that the sun draws out its aroma, which has moth-repellent properties.