Järnört Fröer (Verbena officinalis)

Järnört Fröer (Verbena officinalis)

Pris för Paket med ca 25 frön.

Järnört är en flerårig ört som har en förvedad jordstam och som kan bli upp till sex decimeter hög. Stjälkarna är vanligen talrika och styvt upprätta, fyrkantiga och sträva. Bladen sitter motsatta och är djupt parflikiga och strävhåriga. Järnört blommar i augusti-september, blommorna är små, blekt lila och sitter i smala axlika ställningar. Fodret är rörformat med fem flikar. Kronan har en lång pip och ett femflikat bräm. Blomman har fyra ståndare och ett stift. Frukten är en klyvfrukt med fyra nötlika delfrukter.

Järnört kan knappast förväxlas med andra arter.

Utbredning. Järnört förekommer sällsynt i södra Sverige. Den växer vanligen på kulturmark. Första fynduppgift är från Skåne och publicerades 1744 (Hylander 1971).

Användning. Järnört är en gammal medicinalväxt som bland annat ansågs bota ögonsjukdomar.

Etymologi. Artnamnet officinalis kommer av latinets officina (verkstad, apotek) och syftar på artens användning som läkeväxt. Namnet järnört har tidigare använts på arten väddklint (Centaurea scabiosa).

Verbena officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe and is naturalized in Australia, North America, and many other places in the world. Vervain is best gathered in summer. It grows up to a metre (yard) high, with an upright habitus. The lobed leaves are toothed, the delicate spikes hold mauve flowers. This plant prefers limey soils; occasionally it is grown as an ornamental plant but more often for the powerful properties some herbalists ascribe to it.

FAMILY: Verbenaceae
GENUS: Verbena
SPECIES: Officinalis

OTHER NAMES: Verbena, Verbenaca, Veneris Herba, Herba Sacra, Holy Wort, Druid’s Weed, Brittanica, Pigeon’s Grass, Blue Vervain, Eisenkraut, Enchanter’s Plant, European Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herb of the Cross, Herba Verbenae, Herbe aux Enchantements, Herbe du Foie, Herbe Sacrée, Herbe aux Sorciers, Herbe à Tous les Maux, Herbe du Sang, Herbe de Vénus, Holywort, Juno’s Tears, Ma Bian Cao, Pigeon’s Grass, Pigeonweed, Simpler’s Joy, Turkey Grass, Veine de Vénus, Verbenae Herba, Vervain, Verveine, Verveine Commune, Verveine des Champs, Verveine Officinale, Yerba de Santa Ana. It is also known as a Holy Herb, or more ambiguously as “Mosquito Plant” or “Wild Hyssop”. The common name “blue vervain” is also sometimes used, but also refers to V. hastata. And of course, being the only member of its genus in much of its range, it is also simply known as “the vervain” locally.

Verbena has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called “tears of Isis” in ancient Egypt, and later on “Juno’s tears”. In ancient Greece it was dedicated to Eos Erigineia. In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that Verbena officinalis was used to staunch Jesus’ wounds after his removal from the cross. It was consequently called “holy herb” or (e.g. in Wales) “Devil’s bane”.

The scientific name references the Ancient Roman term verbena, used for any sacrificial herb considered very powerful. Officinalis, meanwhile, is Latin for “used in medicine or herbalism. Ancient Roman priests swept and purified the altars of Jupiter with bundles of vervain. They also used it ritually to create love and peace. Ancient Germans wore vervain on their bodies as charm to create peace, bring love, and pacify evil energies.

Vervain was:

– carried for general good luck and used as a pledge of mutual good faith;
– worn as a charm around the neck for headaches and for snake and other venomous bites;
– buried in a field to make crops abundant;
– burned to attract wealth;
– hung above a bed to prevent nightmares;
– hung at homes as a protection from negative spells;
– hung above a baby’s crib for protection and to enable the child to grow up with a love of learning and a happy look;
– used as a pledge of mutual faith when given to a friend;
– used as a protection from witches;
– used widely by magicians and sorcerers;

Vervain medicinal uses:

Verbena officinalis herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally (as tea or liqueur) for treatment of infections and fever. Common Vervain is usually used as a herbal tea “Vervain”. Verbena has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare Bach flower remedies, prescribed against “over-enthusiasm”. In the Modern Era, it is sometimes considered a powerful “ally” of poets and writers, as its relaxing effects can relieve writer’s block.

The essential oil of various species – mainly common vervain – is traded as Spanish verbena oil.

– Vervain is used as antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and blood coagulant.
– It also is thought to have anti-tumor activity.
– Vervain brings wondrous, vivid, and prophetic dreams, and also acts as an aphrodisiac and nerve tonic. (If looking to enhance dreaming, it is best to drink vervain tea or take one dose of dried extract right before going to sleep)
– The herb is considered to be an anti-depressant and has a powerful calming effect. It is useful in cases of insomnia for creating restful sleep. Vervain is also very good for calming anxieties, and has a very balancing effect on the hormone cycles of women.
– Vervain is very helpful in treating headaches and gallstones, and acts as a tonic for the liver and heart.
– The flower tops are prepared as a tea or tincture to treat insomnia and cramps.
– A wash of vervain is excellent for mouth ulcers, hair and eyes.
– A poultice of the herbage may be used to rapidly heal wounds.

Vervain herbage, either fresh or dried, can be placed in boiling water and steeped to make a tea.

A word of cauton: Vervain does cause nausea in some people, and must be avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women.

Safety notes: This website is not medical advice, and please check with your doctor before using plants if you are pregnant, using medications or have other health conditions.

Source:
entheology.com
wikipedia.org
webmd.com

Tips: Well suited to growing in a mixed herbaceous border and beneath trees and shrubs. Plant 7cm (3in) deep in well-drained soil. Onions are drought tolerant when they are established. Decrease water when the flower appears.