HIT GRASS: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, USES - BIOLOGY - 2024

The blow grass (Oenothera rosea) is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Onagraceae family. It is commonly known as field poppy, arnica, clameria, bloodsucker, colic grass, manuelita, saucer, rosilla, scoundrel, tarapeni, tapacola, yerba del blow, zapotillo or zapotito.

It is a native species of Mesoamerica, and can be found from the southwestern region of the United States to the highlands of Peru and northern Argentina. Due to its medicinal properties, especially its anti-inflammatory effect, the species has been distributed throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Blow grass (Oenothera rosea). Source: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India

The plant is a low-growing herbaceous plant found in temperate and dry, semi-hot and warm climates between 200 and 3,500 meters above sea level. It develops on loamy clay soils on the edge of openings, channels and streams in forests and tropical jungles at an average temperature of 10-25º C.

It is considered a medicinal plant with various active principles, being used as an analgesic, healing, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant. In addition, it is an herb that used as a traditional remedy has therapeutic properties for the treatment of digestive discomforts and menstrual disorders.

General characteristics

Morphology

- Species: Oenothera rosea

Etymology

- Oenothera: derives from the Greek onotheras, - ou m., Oinotheras, - ou m. and onothoûris, -idos f. and from the Latin onothera - ae f. and onothuris -idis, -is f. Whose meaning is a bush typical of mountainous places.

- Rosea: adjective that comes from the Latin roseaus, -a, - um, which means pink.

Chemical composition

The leaves of Oenothera rosea have different chemical elements, including calcium, phosphorus, fibers (such as lignin and cellulose) and vitamin C. They also incorporate ellagic acid, caffeic acid, r-coumaric acid, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, quinones. and tannins.

In the roots we find a high percentage of tannins made up mainly of gallic acid and simple sugars. In the seeds, aspartic acid, stearic acid, glutamic acid, linoleic acid, g-linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid.

Other metabolites include steroids such as the phytosterols b-sitosterol and campestrol; and triterpenic alcohols. In this regard, the highest concentration of metabolites -flavonoids, phenols and tannins- occurs during flowering, favoring their consumption by herbivores.

Habitat and distribution

The species Oenothera rosea is native to North America south of the United States (Texas, Florida), Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. As well as from South America in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina.

Hit grass. Source: Michael Wolf

It is located in regions with a temperate, warm, semi-warm and semi-dry climate at altitudinal levels between 200 - 1,100 meters above sea level and 1900 - 3,900 meters above sea level. It grows in intervened land, on the edge of roads or paths, ditches and streams, parks, gardens. In some contexts, it is considered a weed.

It is found in tropical deciduous and evergreen forests, mountain mesophilic forests, as well as pine, oak, juniper or mixed forests. In addition, it is frequent in ecosystems of xerophilic, semi-desert and thorny scrub of high mountains.

It adapts to conditions of full sun exposure, on level areas or slopes facing north in hot and dry conditions. It tolerates long periods of drought with average annual rainfall of 100 - 800 mm with temperatures between 15 - 25 ° C.

As an ornamental, it is a species that is used to configure hedges, beds and beds, being sold in pots or polyethylene bags. Once established on the ground, it spreads diametrically over it due to the proliferation of stems and rhizomes.

Culture

Blow grass is a species that grows and develops wild in different environments. However, its commercial propagation can be carried out by means of mature and viable seeds or division of rhizomes.

Blow grass as an ornamental. Source: Sphl

The sowing is done directly, placing the seed broadcast on the ground or in pots destined for commercialization as an ornamental. The cultivation from seeds is carried out during spring in the definitive site or at the end of winter if it is in seedbeds or by rhizomes.

It is an undemanding plant with respect to soil fertility, but it requires well-drained soil as it does not tolerate excess moisture. In fact, in commercial crops or pots, the waterings must be sporadic and with a low volume of water, without leaving it completely dry.

This species requires full exposure to start the flowering process, since under shading it develops dense foliage and flowering is occasional. During the summer the plant becomes physiologically inactive, sprouting again at the beginning of the rains in autumn.

The species has a short-lived annual or perennial cycle, flowering during spring or early summer, between April and August. Flowering is favored with the application of mineral fertilizers with high nitrogen content at the beginning of the rains.

The temperature requirements range between 15 and 25º C. The blow grass is a plant resistant to pests and diseases, but susceptible to over-watering.

It is sometimes considered an invasive species in open terrain on a variety of well-drained soils. In fact, it adapts to soils rich or poor in organic matter, wet or dry, intervened or not, clayey or sandy, and even stony.

Applications

The species Oenothera rosea is a medicinal plant of traditional use that has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, healing and disinfectant properties. In fact, it is called "hit herb" because of its anti-inflammatory properties to soothe bumps, wounds, bruises, bruises, and stomach problems.

Blow grass flower. Source: わ に ゃ わ

Thus, creams and macerates made from the leaves of this plant are applied to soothe ailments or injuries to the skin. Traditionally, decoctions and infusions are made with all the parts of the plant, which can be applied orally or topically as a poultice, washes or fomentations.

In Mexico, traditional remedies based on this plant are common, made by cooking the leaves, sifting and macerating the strain to apply as a poultice on the affected part. Likewise, this strain can be diluted in water and ingested as a tea three times a day for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems.

Acne

Due to its anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties, this medicinal herb is useful for reducing discomfort and inflammation caused by acne. In this case, a decoction of the leaves of Oenothera rosea is carried out with which the face is washed three times a day.

Likewise, the leaves can be placed on the affected area for a few minutes. In this way, this skin condition is significantly reduced.

Healing

The herb of blow is used as a healing and disinfectant of the skin, being especially useful for problems such as itching, erysipelas, sores, infected lesions or scabies. For this last annoyance, it is recommended to cook the entire plant and apply it as a plaster or poultice on the affected area.

Tumors and abscesses

The herb suddenly acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce and control the proliferation of cells that cause tumors, postmas or abscesses that ooze pus. It is recommended to make a few leaves boil with water, refrigerate and take several times a day.

Pains in general

The analgesic properties of the elements present in Oenothera rosea allow to relieve muscle aches, stomach aches, angina or pain in general. In a container, boil water with some leaves, refrigerate it and take it on an empty stomach to obtain the best results.

Strengthening the immune system

Another benefit that the herb at once provides is the strengthening of the immune system and the body's natural defense mechanisms. In fact, the regular intake of an Oenothera rosea leaf tea and a weekly sitz bath helps boost immune protection.

Inflammation

Oenothera rosea have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce all types of internal or external inflammation and infections. To achieve this, a tea is made with the leaves of the plant, which relieves swelling and helps reduce it significantly.

Herb infusions are effective for various ailments. Source: pixabay.com

Cleansing the blood

This medicinal herb has the property of eliminating toxins from the blood and the body in general. For this, it is advisable to prepare a tea by boiling the leaves in water and drink it regularly during the time it takes to cleanse the body.

Stomach upset

The regular intake of an infusion of blow leaves of grass is suitable for the treatment of stomach and gastrointestinal problems. Among them we can find diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, heartburn or heat of the stomach, gastroenteritis, ulcers or gastritis; it also acts as an effective purgative.

Menstrual problems

The different metabolites present in the herb at once act as emmenagogue being used to alleviate and regulate various menstrual disorders. In this way, the regular intake of a tea based on leaves helps control internal bleeding and calm menstrual cramps.

References

1. Herb of blow (2019) Mexican medicinal plants. Recovered at: ecoonatura.com
2. Mejia, H., Aurelio, E., & Durand, C. (2017). Therapeutic effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Oenothera rosea A. "sucking blood", in the form of a pharmaceutical cream. National University of San Marcos. Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry. Lima Peru. (Graduate Thesis) 102 pp.
3. Oenothera L. (2018) General key of the family Onagraceae. Iberian Flora: vascular plants of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. 11 pp.
4. Oenothera rosea Aiton (2018) Agribusiness, Agro-ecotourism and Landscape Architecture. Use of ornamental herbaceous plants for the sustainable management of green areas in the center of Veracruz. (Project FOMIX_37622) Recovered in: colpos.mx
5. Oenothera rosea (2018) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
6. Tobe, H., Wagner, WL, & Chin, HC (1987). A systematic and evolutionary study of Oenothera (Onagraceae): seed coat anatomy. Botanical Gazette, 148 (2), 235-257.