Micromeria fruticosa
| Micromeria fruticosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Micromeria |
| Species: | M. fruticosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micromeria fruticosa | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Micromeria fruticosa (syn. Clinopodium serpyllifolium spp.), commonly known as white micromeria or white-leaved savory, is a dwarf evergreen shrub endemic to the eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel),[2] as well as related species found in the Balkans.[3][4] It is a member of the genus Micromeria, in the family Lamiaceae. It is known as zuta levana (זוטה לבנה or זוטא לבנה) in today's Modern Hebrew and ashab a-shai (عشب الشاي) in Arabic.[5] The Bedouins, however, call it by the Arabic name, qurniyya (Arabic: القورنِيه), believed to be a cognate of the Hebrew qoranit, an aromatic herb described in the Mishnah.[6] The plant's aromatic leaves (resembling mint) are used in making decoctions (herbal teas).
White-leaved savory grows mainly on rock surfaces in the low Mediterranean region, and is more common on chalk and calcrete rocks than on rocks of limestone.[7] In the Levant its white blossoms can be seen between July and November.
Taxonomy & nomenclature
[edit]International plant databases indicate other names for plants that are endemic to Israel (Palestine) and to its surroundings, with several synonyms being attributed to a single species. In Palestine, white-leaved savory has been ascribed the genus and species Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce since 1913, both in dictionaries and on later websites, while worldwide the same species of plant has, since 2006, been recognized under the genus and species Clinopodium serpyllifolium (L.), and identified with the subspecies barbatum (P.H.Davis) Bräuchler.[8][1]
Phytochemistry
[edit]
A total of 215 phenolics and other chemical compound were identified in the methanol extracts of M. fruticosa leaves. Of which, over 180 phytochemicals (87 flavonoids, 41 phenolic acids, 16 terpenoids, 8 sulfate derivatives, 7 iridoids, and others) are reported in Micromeria. Some of the metabolites separated include: acacetin-7-O-rutinoside; apigenin 7-O-rutinoside; chlorogenic acid; coumaroylagmatine; lithospermic acid; rosmarinic acid; rutin; sagerinic acid; salvinorin C; santaflavone; and other sulfate derivatives.[9]
Plant properties
[edit]The plant, which contains a high concentration of the monoterpene essential oil known as pulegone, as well as isomenthol, is known for its medicinal properties. In folk remedies, it has been used in treating ailments such as abdominal pains, diarrhoea, eye infections, heart disorders, high blood pressure, weariness, exhaustion, colds and open wounds.[10] Other usages include making a poultice from the boiled leaves and applying it onto burns and skin infections, or drinking an infusion from its leaves for relieving stomach aches, or gargling with the same for treating bad breath odors and gum infections.[11]
Culinary use
[edit]Besides tea which can be made by an infusion of its mint-flavored leaves, the Arabic speaking population in the Hebron area often prepared dried figs (quṭṭēn = قطين) by laying them out to dry upon a large stone slab that had been covered with crushed leaves and stems of thyme-leaved savory (Micromeria fruticosa) for flavoring.[7][12] This is also thought to have been done because of the Thyme-leaved savory's anti-fungal properties.
The ideal time of foraging the plant is between late January and March.[8]
Further reading
[edit]- Dudai, N.; Larkov, O.; Ravid, U.; Putievsky, E.; Lewinsohn, E. (2001). "Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce". Annals of Botany. 88 (3): 349–354. doi:10.1006/anbo.2001.1466.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hassler, Michael (1994). "World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora". Version 25.01; last update January 2nd, 2025. www.worldplants.de. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ^ Dudai et al. Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce, Annals of Botany, Volume 88, Number 3, Pp. 349-354, Oxford Journals
- ^ Daphne, Amos (1983), "Micromeria fruticosa", in Heller, David; Livneh, Micah (eds.), Plants and Animals of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew), vol. 11, Tel Aviv: Israel Ministry of Defence, in affiliation with the Nature Protection Society, pp. 78–79, ISBN 965-05-0078-2
- ^ The species found in the Balkans is Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. serpyllifolium (M.Bieb.) Kuntze.
- ^ Micromeria fruticosa, Wildflowers of Israel
- ^ See p. 149 in: Witztum, Allan (1992). "Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic Names for Plants in the Mint Family". Lĕšonénu: A Journal for the Study of the Hebrew Language and Cognate Subjects: 147–151. JSTOR 24345785. (Hebrew)
- ^ a b Shmida, Avi (2005). MAPA's Dictionary of Plants and Flowers in Israel (in Hebrew). Tel-Aviv: MAPA Publishers. p. 48. OCLC 716569354., s.v. Micromeria fruticosa)
- ^ a b Tesdell, Omar, ed. (2018). Palestinian Wild Food Plants (النباتات البرية الغذائية الفلسطينية) (in English and Arabic). Rāmallāh: Markaz Khalīl al-Sakākīnī al-Thaqāfī. p. 63. ISBN 978-9950-385-72-6. OCLC 1050944096.
- ^ Abu-Reidah, Ibrahim M.; Arráez-Román, David; Al-Nuri, Mohammed; Warad, Ismail; Segura-Carretero, Antonio (2019-05-01). "Untargeted metabolite profiling and phytochemical analysis of Micromeria fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae) leaves". Food Chemistry. 279: 128–143. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.11.144. ISSN 1873-7072. PMID 30611472.
- ^ Dudai, Larkov, Ravid, Putievsky and Lewinsohn, Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce, Annals of Botany, Volume 88, Number 3, Oxford 2001, p. 349
- ^ Nissim Krispil, Medicinal Plants in Israel and Throughout the World - the Complete Guide, Or Yehuda (Israel) 2000, p. 92
- ^ Daphne, Amos (1983), "Micromeria fruticosa", in Heller, David; Livneh, Micah (eds.), Plants and Animals of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew), vol. 11, Tel Aviv: Israel Ministry of Defence, in affiliation with the Nature Protection Society, pp. 78–79, ISBN 965-05-0078-2
External links
[edit]
Media related to Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Micromeria fruticosa at Wikispecies
