Re: Lychnis--Why Lamp Flowers?
- Subject: Re: Lychnis--Why Lamp Flowers?
- From: Richard Dufresne s*@infi.net
- Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 12:11:56 -0400
The thread on Lychnis reminds me that there are a number of Phlomis-related
species like Ballota acetabulosa (Luminia or Likhnarįki in Greek) whose
calyxes are used as wicks. These Lamiaceae are characterized as having
large, scalloped flanges at the mouth the calyx. This surface allows the
calyx to float upright in a dish of oil while the body of the calyx acts as
a wick. The length of the calyx prevents the main body of oil from igniting.
This info came from the Herbs of Greece by Alta Dodds Niebuhr
For an extreme example of a flanged calyx, think of Molucella laevis, Bells
of Ireland
Richard F. Dufresne
313 Spur Road
Greensboro, North Carolina 27406 USA
336-674-3105
World of Salvias: http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/index.htm
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