Borretsch (Borago officinalis), isolated also Boretsch written or as a cucumber herb designation, is a spice and a welfare plant in the family of the rough sheet plants or (Boraginaceae). The plant originally resident in the Mediterranean area is cultivated since the late Middle Ages in Central Europe and ranks therefore among the

Name origin

The name cucumber herb used in the vernacular occasionally for this plant is derived from the characteristic cucumber taste of the sheets. In the vernacular the plant carries blue sky star for the beautiful names due to its remarkably blue blooms also. Other popular designations are heart joy, Wohlgemutsblume and

For the common designation Borretsch gives it a row different explanations. Some authors derive Borretsch from latin word borra, "fabrics from rauer wool ", and assume a relationship with the behaarten and sheets. Other authors are the opinion, the name come from the Arab abu r-rach, "father of the sweat ", and refer to the characteristic of the Borretsch used in the people medicine to cause sweats. Occasionally Borretsch is attributed in addition, to the celtic word borrach (= courage).

Description

The one year's krautige plant up to 70 centimeters highly and is borstig behaart at and sheets. The dernben sheets are dark green, lanzett to eggly-shaped formed and ten to fifteen centimeters long. From May to Septembers the plant carries bright blue blooms, which sit in each case at one about three centimeters long bloom handle. The blooms are The five consist of Zipfeln and are star shaped struck back during the bloom time. The five blue form five throat sheds and blaulila the in the bloom center stand so closely together that they form a strewing cone. The Fruchtknoten is upper constant and is just like the styluses inside this strewing cone.

The blooms are before male. That means that first the Pollen is formed, and only if the bloom is older and in the female stage, it takes up now matures scars the bring along Pollen of dusting insects. With this mechanism it is prevented that the plant dusts itself.

Dusting

For beekeepers the Borretsch ranks among the bee pastures. The blue blooms do not have bright line juice marks, which are visible for dusting insects, for humans however without aids are recognizable.

Beside bees above all Hummeln visit on the Nektarsuche the blooms. The dusting insects approach the nodding blooms from downside and hold on thereby to the throat sheds. If they affect the exterior of the strewing cone of a bloom in the before-male stage, the strewing cone opens, and Pollen rieselt on the insect down. With blooms, which are in the female stage, the stylus from the dust sheet cone grew out of. There insects, which poll-dusts such a bloom visits, press the Pollen on the scar of the stylus.

Seed formation and propagation

With dusted blooms forms in the four fruit subjects of the Fruchtknotens in each case hard, einsamiges Developed these about five millimeters long and from dark-brown color. At its basis is a so-called Elaiosom, a protein.

This Elaiosom plays a large role during the local spreading of the plant, because thereby seeds for ants mature as food are interesting. By the bloom falling down seeds are in-collected by ants and into removed the often far build kidnapped. The Elaiosom is replaced there from the ants and the intact seed is out-transported the building. This propagation strategy is called Myrmechorie.

Occurrence

Borretsch is original one in the Mediterranean area resident plant and occurs there particularly on fallow lands. It is cultivated nearly completely today in Europe and North America. Due to this purposeful introduction one counts it to the ethelochoren plants. As a garden refugee it is verwildert at some places.

To Central Europe the Borretsch arrived only in the late Middle Ages. It was cultivated first in France and arrived from there out to Germany. Already in 16. Century was frequently cultivated the plant in farmer gardens.

Contents materials

Borretsch contains small quantities (about 10 mg per kilogram dried plant) of a set of Pyrrolizidin alkaloids (Amabilin, Intermedin, Lycopsamin, Supinin). These are considered as toxic to the liver, therefore are a regular benefit of Borretsch not recommended. An occasional consumption is not considered however as without heistation, just as a consumption of the blooms and seeds, there these the mentioned alkaloids contained. In addition Borretsch contains Schleimstoffe, Gerbstoffe, resin, Saponin, Kaliumnitrat, silicic acid, gamma ethereal oil. The Vitamin C content of the fresh plant amounts to 149.3 mg per 100 g freshness weight.

Borretsch in the Pflanzenheilkunde

Borretsch lindert fever, dry cough and skin excursion. The oil won from the seed provides with rheumatischer Arthritis easement. Due to the high content of gamma Borretsch finds also employment with the treatment of Ekzemen such as Neurodermitis.

and - contain herb Gerbstoffe, were urine-held back soluble silicic acid and Schleimstoffe and therefore in the people medicine with inflammations of the respiratory system, and used failure. Since the content of liver-toxic Pyrrolizidinalkaloiden can be quite high and an effectiveness of the Borretsch is not occupied with the areas of application specified above, a medical use one advises against. Also as kitchen spice Borretsch should be used only occasionally and economically (S. reference).

The oil against, it won from the seeds, is practically free from the harmful alkaloids, if it was won by cold pressing. The portion of gamma amounts to 20% and exceeds thereby even the night candle oil. Preparing from are recommended to atopischem Ekzem (Neurodermitis) as food auxiliary means internally and/or outwardly with skin dryness, and internally with rheumatoider Arthritis and/or other disease pictures, which are brought with a lack of gamma in connection. A permission as medicaments does not exist however.

Use in the kitchen

The sheets of the Borretsch are eaten in salads or cooked in soups. From that about 3 mm large, dark seeds oil can be won. Borretsch is a component of the Greens sauce, a typical court of the German regional kitchen, which particularly in Frankfurt area enjoys of large popularity.

Also one can use the blue blooms as salad decoration - they are edible. However only and then the blooms give the Dressing on the salad, because the vinegar lets the color of the blooms change to red. In former times one made of the blooms also a Konfekt, with which sweet foods were decorated. The blooms were coated in addition with Eischnee and covered with Puderzucker and dried afterwards.

For peppering only the freshness, are used young sheets or the blooms since Borretsch loses with drying rapidly at flavour. It is advisable to chop the sheets because of the rauen hair small.

See also: List of the kitchen herbs and spices

Borretsch in the superstition

Borretsch symbolizes and integrity in thinking. I, wrote, always bring Plinius Borretsch joy.

Borretsch has the call to wake the life spirit. Thus it is called Generall history OF plan width unit already with John Gerard in "The harsh universe, or "(1597):

Today humans do the blooms into the salad, in order to be correct themselves merrily and improve the mood. Much one can make from the plant, what facilitates the heart, which drives concerns out and which spirit raises. The sheets of the Borretsch, taken in the wine to itself, make men and women glad and lucky, drive mourning, boredom and melancholy out, which already Dioskorides have and Plinius confirms. Syrup from is good for the heart, lets the melancholy assign and calms the crazy people down.

Literature

• Angelika and Juliane box: Hagebutte & CO - blooms, fruits and propagation of European plants. Nottuln: Fauna publishing house 2003. ISBN 3-93-598090-6

Related links

• Borretsch on Gernot Katzers spice sides

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