Lavandula stoechas
Encyclopedia
Lavandula stoechas occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region.
shrub
, it usually grows to 30–100 cm tall and wide. The leaves
are 1–4 cm long, greyish and tomentose
.
The flower
s are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes 2–3 cm long at the top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm long; each flower is subtended by a bract
4–8 mm long. At the top of the spike are a number of much larger, sterile bract
s (no flowers between them), 10–50 mm long and bright lavender
purple
(rarely white).
in wide cultivation include
This species is more fragile than common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia
), as it is less winter hardy; but harsher and more resinous in its oils. Stoechas lavender is used commercially in air freshener
s and insecticide
s.
, it has become an invasive species
, widely distributed within the continent. It has been declared a noxious weed in Victoria since 1920. To control small patches, completely remove or cut off main roots near the base of the plant. Cutting or slashing the plant will only result in regrowth. Large areas are best ploughed in the spring. It also is regarded as a weed in parts of Spain.
Description
A perennialPerennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, it usually grows to 30–100 cm tall and wide. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are 1–4 cm long, greyish and tomentose
Tomentose
Tomentose is a term used to describe plant hairs that are flattened and matted, forming a woolly coating known as tomentum. Often the hairs are silver or gray-colored...
.
The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are pinkish-purple (lavender-coloured), produced on spikes 2–3 cm long at the top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm long; each flower is subtended by a bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
4–8 mm long. At the top of the spike are a number of much larger, sterile bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s (no flowers between them), 10–50 mm long and bright lavender
Lavender (color)
Lavender is a pale tint of violet. It applies particularly to the color of the flower of the same name. The web color called lavender is displayed at right—it matches the color of the very palest part of the lavender flower; however, the more saturated color shown below as floral lavender more...
purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
(rarely white).
Subspecies
SubspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
in wide cultivation include
- L. stoechas luisieri, which has petalPetalPetals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s much less interconnected, and - L. stoechas pedunculata, the common type specific plant, once taxonomically considered L. pedunculataLavenderThe lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
.
Medicinal uses
Flower spikes can be used internally for headaches, irritability, feverish colds and nausea, and externally used for wounds, rheumatic pain and as an insect repellent.Cultivation
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula angustifolia (also Lavandula spica or Lavandula vera; common lavender, true lavender, narrow-leaved lavender or English lavender (though not native to England); formerly L...
), as it is less winter hardy; but harsher and more resinous in its oils. Stoechas lavender is used commercially in air freshener
Air freshener
Air fresheners are consumer products used in homes or commercial products used in restrooms that typically emit fragrance. There are two broad air freshener categories: continuous action and instant action...
s and insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s.
Invasive species
Since its introduction into AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, it has become an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, widely distributed within the continent. It has been declared a noxious weed in Victoria since 1920. To control small patches, completely remove or cut off main roots near the base of the plant. Cutting or slashing the plant will only result in regrowth. Large areas are best ploughed in the spring. It also is regarded as a weed in parts of Spain.