Re: Ballota
- To: n*@lehmann.mobot.org, m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Ballota
- From: "* B* <s*@hotmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 08:52:47 PDT
>Apparently the Greeks used to use the calyces of B. acetabulosa as
wicks
>for burning olive oil: the calyx is placed pointed side up on the
surface
>of the oil and the tip lit. It does actually work -- just -- if you
soak
>the calyx in oil first to prime it! The flame is very small, and you'd
>need an awful lot of them to light a room....
They also use Mullein for the same purpose. It isn't generally for the
purpose of lighting rooms (though a larger piece could be used); but for
the small oil lamps they keep burning in front of the small iconostasis
in each home. With Mullein, they generally take a piece of leaf, roll
it, and insert into a hole drilled throug a round flat piece of cork.
This floats on the oil and makes a decent little flame.
Bob
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