The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
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The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
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| A detail of the plant and the flower | A detail of the fruit |
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Daniel Martínez Bou
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| Common noun: Dog- rose | ||
| Scientific noun: Rosa Canina. The origin of this name seems to be attributed to the fact that it has hooked prickles which resemble to a dog canines. Some belief that the name was given because the plant was used in the past to cure rabies. | ||
| Family. Rose Family - Rosaceae- | ||
| Habitat: We find it in woods, hedges, by the side of the roads. | ||
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| Characteristics:
Perennial bush up to 2 m.tall. Vine shoot like stems, green, pendulous, with strong hooked prickles. Composite leaves; 3- 4 pairs of toothed , oval leaflets. Solitary flowers or in 1-4 corymbs. White or pink, till 4 cm wide with numerous stamens and sepals which fall before the fruit is ripe. Fruit 2 cm wide, dark red (Hips). Sometimes there are some protuberances over the branches, which are produced by the plant itself to locate the larvae of the insects Rhodite Rosae. This formations ,as we will see later, have medicinal uses. |
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| Properties: a)medicinal: Digestive: Dry petals, soaked for 5 minutes in hot water. Take after meals. Anti- inflammatory: Pour boiling water over 10 gr. of dry flowers. Put a soaked compress on the eyes. Eyewash: - rose ointment- : According to ancient Greek, the petals had to be soaked with olive oil and wine in the sun. Soft laxative : 70 gr. of dry leaves per litter or 60 gr. of dry root per litter must be cooked in water. In both cases water must be evaporated a third. Vitaminic: Having removed the seeds, which we must be careful of since they are poisonous for our spine, smash the fruit pulp and mix it up in equal parts with sugar to eat it as a marmalade. They are very rich in vitamin C. Astringent: When the hips are permitted to boil in a proportion of 25 gr. per litter of water till decreasing it by a third , they are astringent and can be used to cure diarrhea. Tonic: Drink the infusion made with 6O gr. of hips per litter of water. b)Cookery : Apart from the hips marmalade, such as it has been said before, the petals of the dog rose can be used to decorate cakes , having previously candied them. Mixed with honey or sugar, we can make splendid jellies. c) cosmetic: The infusion of rose petals is a fantastic astringent and skin tonic. It has to be used by people having too oily skins. The tannins which this flower contains will close their pores and tone up their skin. It is a good remedy against youthful acne. WATER OF ROSES : SEE "ROSA GALLICA" |
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| . | Picking and storing: Roots must be picked at the beginning of Spring .Leaves when in late Spring. Petals before the flower bloom - They must be air dried on a piece of cloth and kept in airtight containers in a dry spot. The hips should be collected in Autumn when well ripe.
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