Winter savory

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Winter savory
Satureja montana2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Satureja
Species:
S. montana
Binomial name
Satureja montana
L.
Synonyms [1]
  • Clinopodium montanum(L.) Kuntze
  • Micromeria montana(L.) Rchb.
  • Micromeria pygmaeaRchb.
  • Micromeria variegataRchb.
  • Satureja brevisJord. & Fourr.
  • Satureja ciliataAvé-Lall.
  • Satureja flexuosaJord. & Fourr.
  • Satureja hyssopifoliaBertol.
  • Satureja karstianaJustin
  • Satureja montana var. chamaebuxusBriq.
  • Satureja montana var. communisVis.
  • Satureja montana subsp. montanaSatureja montana var. stenophylla
  • Boiss.Satureja montana f. subquadrangula
  • (Rohlena) ŠilicSatureja montana var. subquadrangula
  • RohlenaSatureja mucronifolia
  • StokesSatureja ovalifolia
  • Huter, Porta & RigoSatureja petraea
  • Jord. & Fourr.Satureja pollinonis
  • Huter, Porta & RigoSatureja provincialis
  • Jord. & Fourr.Satureja pyrenaica
  • Jord. & Fourr.Satureja rigidula
  • Jord. & Fourr.Satureja trifida
  • MoenchSaturiastrum montanum
  • (L.) Fourr.Saturiastrum petraeum
  • Fourr.Thymus montanus
  • (L.) Dum.Cours. [Illegitimate]

Satureja montana (winter savory or mountain savory), is a perennial, semi-evergreen herb in the family Lamiaceae, native to warm temperate regions of southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. It has dark green leaves and summer flowers ranging from pale lavender, or pink to white. The closely related summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is an annual plant.

Contents

Description

It grows to between 10 and 40 cm (4 and 16 in) tall. [2] [3] The leathery, [3] dark green [4] leaves are opposite, oval-lanceolate or needle-like, [5] 1–2 cm long and 5 mm broad. The flowers appear in summer, [5] between July and October, [6] and range from pale lavender or pink to white. [3] [7] The flowers are smaller than summer savoury flowers. [8] It contains carvacrol, [7] a monoterpenoid phenol. [9]

The herb was first published by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum on page 568 in 1753. [1] [10] The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains, [11] leading to the common name 'mountain savory'. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Satureja montana is native to temperate areas between Europe, [4] the Mediterranean, [2] and Africa. [6] It has been naturalised in Great Britain. [6] It can be found growing in old walls, on dry banks and rocks on hillsides, [6] or rocky mountain slopes, [3] usually on calcareous [6] or alkaline soils. [4]

Cultivation and uses

There is evidence of its use about 2000 years ago by the ancient Romans and Greeks. [3]

Winter savory is easy to grow and can be used as a culinary herb garden edging plant. [3] It requires six hours of sun per day and well-draining soil. [12] In temperate climates it becomes dormant in winter, putting out leaves on the bare stems in the spring. While dormant, it should not be cut back; stems which appear dead will leaf-out again. Winter savory is hardy and has a low-bunching habit.[ citation needed ]

It is hardy to USDA Zone 4 [5] and can be propagated from softwood cuttings. [4] [13] Winter savory is used as a companion plant for beans, keeping bean weevils away, and is also planted with roses to reduce mildew and aphids. [6] [12] [14]

S. montana 'Nana' is a known dwarf cultivar. [15] S. montana 'Prostrate White' is a small white flowered form. [16]

Culinary uses

In cooking, winter savory has a reputation for going very well with both beans and meats, [17] very often lighter meats such as chicken or turkey, and can be used in stuffing. It can also be used in soups and sauces. It has a strong flavour (stronger than summer savory) [3] [18] while uncooked but loses much of its flavour with prolonged cooking. It can be added to breadcrumbs as a coating for various meats including trout. [8]

Medicinal uses

Satureja montana1.jpg
closeup image of the flower Satureja montana b2.JPG
closeup image of the flower

Winter savory has been purported to have antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, and digestive benefits. [6] [17] It has also been used as an expectorant, and in the treatment of bee stings [13] [19] [20] or insect bites through the use of a poultice of the leaves. [17] The plant has a stronger action than the closely related summer savory. [17]

Taken internally, it is said to be a remedy for colic and a cure for flatulence, whilst it is also used to treat gastro-enteritis, cystitis, nausea, diarrhoea, bronchial congestion, sore throat and menstrual disorders. [17] It should not be prescribed for pregnant women.

Therapeutic-grade oil has been determined to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans . [21]

The plant is harvested when flowering in the summer and can be used fresh or dried. The essential oil is an ingredient in lotions for the scalp in cases of incipient baldness. [12] An ointment made from the plant is used externally to relieve arthritic joints. [17]

In traditional herbal medicine, summer savory was believed to be an aphrodisiac, while winter savory was believed to inhibit sexual desire (an anaphrodisiac). [7] French herbalist Maurice Messegue claimed that savory was 'the herb of happiness'. [17]

Strewing Herb

The Saturejas have been traditionally used to strew on the floor since the medieval times, as aromatic herbs that reduce insects etc. [22]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregano</span> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemary</span> Species of plant

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<i>Satureja</i> Genus of flowering plants

Satureja is a genus of aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to North Africa, southern and southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. A few New World species were formerly included in Satureja, but they have all been moved to other genera. Several species are cultivated as culinary herbs called savory, and they have become established in the wild in a few places.

<i>Mentha pulegium</i> Species of plant

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Savory or Savoury may refer to:

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<i>Dysphania ambrosioides</i> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Za'atar</span> Levantine herb or herb blend

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer savory</span> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Leonurus cardiaca</i> Species of plant

Leonurus cardiaca, known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Other common names include throw-wort, lion's ear, and lion's tail. Lion's tail is also a common name for Leonotis leonurus, and lion's ear, a common name for Leonotis nepetifolia. Originally from Central Asia and southeastern Europe, it is now found worldwide, spread largely due to its use as a herbal remedy.

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<i>Hyssopus officinalis</i> Species of plant

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to herbs and spices:

<i>Satureja thymbra</i> Species of plant

Satureja thymbra, commonly known as savory of Crete, whorled savory, pink savory, and Roman hyssop, is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family Lamiaceae, having strongly scented leaves, endemic to Libya, southeastern Europe from Sardinia to Turkey; Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel (Palestine). The plant is noted for its dark-green leaves which grow on numerous, closely compacted branches, reaching a height of 20–50 cm. The plant bears pink to purple flowers that blossom between March and June.

<i>Satureja spicigera</i> Species of plant in the family Lamiaceae

Satureja spicigera, the creeping savory, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to northeastern Turkey, the Caucasus, and northwestern Iran. A perennial prostrate shrub, hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, it is recommended as an edging plant for rock and herb gardens. Used as a culinary herb, both fresh and dried, its flavor is similar to winter savory, Satureja montana, as it is stronger than summer savory, Satureja hortensis.

References

  1. 1 2 "Satureja montana L. is an accepted name". theplantlist.org. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 Gutzerová, Naděžda. "SATUREJA MONTANA L. – saturejka horská". botany.cz. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Linford, Jenny (2010). A concise guide to herbs. Bath: Parragon. p. 210. ISBN   9781405487993.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Satureja montana winter savory". rhs.org.u. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Bob Beckstrom, Karan Davis Cutler, Kathleen Fisher, Phillip Giroux, Judy Glattstein, Michael MacCaskey, Bill Marken, Charlie Nardozzi, Sally Roth, Marcia Tatroe, Lance Walheim and Ann Whitman Gardening All-in-One For Dummies , p. 674, at Google Books
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Satureja montana - L." pfaf.org. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Savory Satureja hortensis / Satureja montana". herbs2000.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 K. V. Peter (Editor) Handbook of Herbs and Spices, Volume 2 , p. 95, at Google Books
  9. Vladić, Jelena; Zeković, Zoran; Jokić, Stela; Svilović, Sandra; Kovačević, Strahinja; Vidović, Senka (November 2016). "Winter savory: Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and mathematical modeling of extraction process". The Journal of Supercritical Fluids. 117: 89–97. doi:10.1016/j.supflu.2016.05.027.
  10. "Lamiaceae Satureja montana L." ipni.org. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  11. Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins , p. 239, at Google Books
  12. 1 2 3 Sandra-Jane Goddard What Mary Knew , p. 241, at Google Books
  13. 1 2 Jane Eastoe Herbs: Inspiration and Practical Advice for Gardeners , p. 85, at Google Books
  14. winter savory
  15. "Creeping Winter Savory 'Nana'". davesgarden.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  16. "Winter savory". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Terry Breverton Breverton's Complete Herbal: A Book of Remarkable Plants and Their Uses , p. 580, at Google Books
  18. "Savory recipes". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  19. Joan Parry Dutton Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: How to Identify 200 of Colonial America's ... , p. 153, at Google Books
  20. J. Ingle and Nicholas Culpeper Pocket companion to Culpeper's herbal, or English physician , p. 9, at Google Books
  21. Oberg K, Rolling L, Oberg C. in The Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 2005;82:60-72
  22. https://plewsgardendesign.co.uk/winter-savory-satureja-montana/