Rosemary
(Rosemarus-Dew of the sea) is ritual herb indigenous
to the Mediterranean region. This grows around
the Mediterranean coast because of the salt sea
spray. Ancient Greeks believed that Rosemary has
the reputation for strengthening the bram and
memory. It is used as an emblem of love remembrance
and friendship and generally used in weddings,
chastening and funerals. Students from Greece
used to make garlands of Rosemary in their head
when taking exam to stimulate their minds. The
plant gives pungent, resinous taste with a delightful
perfume. It imparts lasting flavour to many foods.
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| It is an evergreen
shurb highly aromatic and greatly valued for medicine
and food. The plant has woody trunk . The leaves
are linear and revolute (slightly incurved) green
on the dorsal side and woolly grayish on the ventral
side. On the ventral sides glands are situated.
Tac flowers are pale blue in clusters. The calyx
contains lot of oils. |
| Rosemay requires
light, sandy dry soil. Rosemary needs lune, egg
shells, woodash could be added around the bush.
It grows well against a wall. The oild content depend
on the shelter and the quantity of sunshine the
plant has received . It doesn’t require heavy
pruning. |
| It can be peopagated
by seeds, cuttings, and division of roots and layering.
i) Seeds: Fine quality plants
are obtained from the seeds but it is difficult
to germinate the seeds. Sow the seeds in shallow
drills at 15 cm apart Transpalnt the seeding to
the nursery bed at 15 cm apart when it is few
cm height. After sufficient growth transplant
the seedings to the man field at 90 cm.
ii) Cuttings: Propagation by
cuttings is easier when the palnt flowers. Take
healthy cuttings 15 cm height and plant in a sandy
soil in a shady place
iii) Root division: This could
be done on an established bush for every 2-3 yeaers.
This prevent the plant becoming leggy and ensures
leaves to have green colour.
iv) Layering: This is done by
pegging lower branches under a sandy soil. |
| The plant should
be protected from cold winds and frost. Necessary
protection measures should be done to prevent the
damage. |
| Rosemary can be
harvested from 2nd year after planting at any time
of the year. If it is harvested from 2nd year after
planting at any time of the year. If it is harvested
for drying cut the new shoots that have hardened.
The leaves should be taken straight to the drying
chamber to prevent the loss of volatile oil. |
| Food |
The leaves impart
piny pungent and lingering aroma.
It adds flavour to most unusual foods as well as
every day dishes of meat, eggs and vegetables
Freshly chopped leaves gives flavour to Jam, sweet
sauces and herb butter
It acts as ‘digestif’ after a banquet
and will refresh the body and mind
It used in the preparation of biscuits, cheese,
eggs, soup, stews, sauces
It is also used in meat, fish poultry and stuffing
or rabbit
It is used for the preparation of Rosemary tea,
wine. |
| Medicinal |
For diuretic disorder
. Prepare diuretic tea- take one tea spoon leaves
boil it with Lovage and Juniper
Rosemary water (Rosemary steeped in boil water)
improved the skin, and used as a hair wash. It also
stimulates hair growth.
It acts on weak digestion, flatulence, neuralgic
pains.
It stimulates circulation of blood
It widens the tissues where it is applied
It acts as a room freshner-twigs are burnt to give
the aroma
It is used as a moth repellant with other herbs
Oil of Rosemary; Soak apieal shoots and leaves in
vegetables oil for a week and keep it in the sun.
Then the oil is filtered and used as Oil of Rosemary. |
