Millepertuis with under

The millepertuis with under ( Hypericum nummularium ) is a plant of the family of the Clusiaceae according to the traditional Classification, or of the Hypericaceae according to the phylogenetic classification. Other common nouns: Vulnerary of the Carthusian monks, Millepertuis nummulaire, Vulnerary.

Description

Small crawling hardy perennial, with drawn up stems, the Vulnerary of the Carthusian monks is a millepertuis of original aspect, with tufts from approximately 10 to 20 cm, hanging or sometimes spread out in rivet washer over the walls limestones of mountain. The stems three or four, woody, nonhairy, almost crawling, hails, are broken into leaf over all their length, the oval limbs or almost rounds are opposite two by two, glaucous lower parts with two black spots close to the edge. Each stem ends in some sometimes veined flowers gilded yellow of red, diameter 20 to 30 mm, in corymbe or recluses, with five rather large petals three to four times the longer than the chalice, five sepals and of many cheesecloths. The fruit is a capsule. The plant is very aromatic in a dry state, its odor is very special, that of Coumarin, slightly balsamic, at the same time delicate and subtle. Flowering from June to September.

Habitat

The vulnerary is endemic of the Pyrenees and the French Alps, from 500 to 2500 m on rocks limestones, fixed walls or falls, cracks, exposed to south-west. It in general pushes safe from these rocks limestones, sometimes in the recesses produced by the erosion of the snow which digs limestone at the time of the cast iron. It is said that its roots produce an acid able to dig the calcareous rock. It would be of this chemical combination of limestone and the acid which is born the so particular flavor from the vulnerary. In Chartreuse (Isere), it populates the karst, landscape of lapiaz (or lapié), result of the prevalence of the chemical erosion of the rocks limestones.

Use

One proceeds to his gathering at the beginning of flowering: one cuts the whole stem, by having well care not to tear off the roots. The decoction of this plant will be used to also make delicious herb teas with the antispasmodic, regulating virtues of the blood and tonic cycle. It is sovereign against coolings. As its name indicates it, it has a healing capacity.

It counts among the mysterious plants which are used for the development of famous liquor of the monks of Large Chartreuse.

But one also uses it since long generations like bleaches on grass noble with liquor. Receipts: to make macerate during fifteen days with the sun in alcohol at a rate of 100 G of flowered bits and 50 G of sugar per liter (to add sugar beforehand molten in a half glass of water and carried to boiling). But by putting in a bottle 40 bits in one liter of brandy, one obtains an excellent liquor; the whole plant, sheets and buttons included/understood, remain in brandy during years, without sugar, and ageing produces a softening of liquor; it is not " prête" that after two or three years and excellent during years.

Reference

complete Guide of the flowers of mountain of the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Vosges, the Jura, Massif Central; Editions Delachaux and Niestlé
Guide familiar of the alpine flora; Editions of Boëtie
Guide of the flowers of mountain of the Vosges, Massif Central, the Jura, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines; Let us publish Duculot
Guide of wild, aromatic and condiment grasses; Editions Duculot

External bonds

Random links: