MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALING PROPERTIES OF LAVENDER, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS CULTIVATION

Abstract

Lavanda je biljna vrsta iz porodice Lamiaceae. Uzgoj lavande javlja se već u starome vijeku, a prvi kultivari su zabilježeni početkom 11. stoljeća. Najpoznatija vrsta lavande je prava lavanda (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). Poznate su i širokolisna lavanda (L. latifolia Medik.) i lavandin (L. hybrida Rev.). Ove su vrste autohtone na mediteranskom području, ali se danas su uzgojene po cijeloj Hrvatskoj. Otok Hvar je poznati centar komercijalne proizvodnje i uljne destilacije u Hrvatskoj, ali se proizvodnja sve više širi po cijeloj Hrvatskoj, čak i u kontinentalnim dijelovima. Lavanda je oduvijek imala važno mjesto u tradicionalnoj medicini, a njezina ljekovita i medicinska svojstva su dokazane i suvremenim istraživanjima. Upravo zbog njezinog divnog mirisa koji dolazi od mirisnih ulja koja se stvaraju u biljkama i šarenim cvjetovima, lavande su prave biljke za uljepšavanje krajolika i vrtova.Lavender is a plant species of Lamiaceae family. Growing lavender appeared already in ancient times, and the first cultivars were recorded at the beginning of the 11th century. The best known species of lavender is real lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). They are known broadleaf lavender (L. latifolia Medik.) and lavender (L. hybrida Rev.). These are the types indigenous to the Mediterranean region, but are now grown all over the country. The island of Hvar is known center of commercial production and oil distillation in Croatia, but the production has been spreading all over the country, even in inland areas. Lavender has always had an important place in traditional medicine and its healing and medicinal properties are proven and modern scientific researches. Because of its wonderful smell that comes from scented oils that are produced in plants and colorful flowers, lavender plants are the true beauty of the landscape and gardens