LAVANDULA DENTATA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2024

Lavandula dentata is a species of bushy and aromatic plant with a robust appearance that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Commonly known as English lavender, curly lavender, lavender, curly lavender, dentate lavender, dentate lavender, garland or lavender, it is a natural plant of the Mediterranean region.

Lavender is a short perennial plant that reaches about 90 cm in height, has lanceolate leaves with toothed margins that sprout annually. The intense-smelling, violet-colored bilabied flowers are grouped into long spikes that bloom from late spring to early fall.

Lavandula dentata. Source: pixabay.com

It generally grows on any type of terrain, including soils of low fertility, dry, stony and of calcareous origin, sometimes clayey or loamy. However, it requires well-drained soils in full sun exposure and an average temperature between 15 and 25 ºC.

It is an ornamental plant that is grown in pots and is used in gardening to form flower beds, borders or compact hedges. Its flowers have a high content of aromatic oils that are used to make colognes and perfumes, flavor desserts and even in artisan medicine.

General characteristics

Appearance

It is a fast growing bushy plant with a semi-woody consistency that can reach up to a meter in height. It easily re-sprouts forming plants with a globose appearance, the root is pivoting if it reproduces by seed and fasciculate if it is by cutting.

Leaves

The oblong or lanceolate leaves are linear in growth, 2-5 cm long, and arranged opposite each other. The margins are characterized by their rounded teeth, which are grayish-green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside, tomentose on both sides.

flowers

The small whorled, purplish-blue flowers are grouped into spiciform inflorescences, more or less cylindrical, in groups of 8-12 flowers. The corolla that protrudes from the calyx is bilabiate in shape, presenting 2 upper and 3 lower lobes. It is also violet in color and very tomentose.

Fruit

The fruit is an elongated nut or nucula that develops in the calyx tube of the flower. In fact, the fruit is made up of 4 ellipsoidal nocules or indehiscent nuts of brown color and smooth cover.

Inflorescences of Lavandula dentata. Source: Nanosanchez

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Lamiales

- Family: Lamiaceae

- Subfamily: Nepetoideae

- Tribe: Lavanduleae

- Genus: Lavandula

- Section: Dentatae

- Species: Lavandula dentata L.

Etymology

- Lavandula: the name of the genus is derived from the Old French «lavandre», as well as from the Greek «λανω» and from the Latin «lǎvo, lǎvātum, -āre» which means «wash, clean». Alluding to the use of the infusions of the plant used for washing or cleaning.

- dentata: the specific adjective in Latin means "with teeth", alluding to the jagged margins of the leaves.

Synonymy

- Lavandula dentata var. Ging vulgaris

- Stoechas dentata (L.) Mill.

- Lavandula dentata var. candicans Batt.

- Lavandula dentata var. dentata

- Lavandula dentata f. dentata

- Lavandula dentata f. Sennen multibracteata

- Lavandula dentata f. pinnatolobulata Sennen

Lavandula dentata leaves. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

Habitat and distribution

The Lavandula dentata species is native to the western Mediterranean area, specifically the Canary Islands, Madeira and Southeast Asia. In the same way, it is found distributed in the Balearic Islands and the south of the Iberian Peninsula at an altitude range of less than 400 meters above sea level.

Its natural habitat is located on soils of limestone origin in sunny openings, grasslands, bushes or low shrubs. Under cultivation it requires a peaty substrate that provides greater aeration and facilitates drainage, since the roots tend to be susceptible to waterlogging.

Properties

Medicinal properties

The main active components of Lavandula dentata are essential oils, rich in soothing terpenic alcohols. Among them are camphor, a-pinene, b-pinene, b-phelandrene, borneol, cineole, citronellol, d-borneol, d-limonene, eucalyptol, farnesene, geraniol, linalol, nerol and sabinene.

In addition, it has tannins and saponins with anti-inflammatory, astringent and antioxidant action. In fact, its main effect is to protect the body's cells against the action of certain free radicals that cause degenerative pathologies such as cancer or Alzheimer's.

Other components include coumarins and butyric, caproic, coumaric, isobutyric, rosmarinic, and ursolic acids. These act as antiseptics, antispasmodics, tranquilizers or tonics, in addition to allowing to calm stomach disorders, sinusitis and bronchitis. Its consumption prevents insomnia.

Dried inflorescences and seeds of Lavandula dentata. Source: Muséum de Toulouse

Other uses

Lavender or lavender is used as a culinary herb to give flavor and color to the "sugar glass" used to make meringues, glazes or ice creams. In the same way, it is used as an ingredient to flavor jams, desserts, cookies, cakes and vinegar.

The dried leaves and flowers are used to make "pot pourri" or small pads of lavender used as insect repellent or scent environments. Dried flowers are used in decoration, cutting flowers to make flower arrangements or to make incense sticks.

It is widely used in perfumery and cosmetology.

Spread

The cultivation of Lavandula dentata is usually carried out starting from seeds or apical cuttings that have been rooted in nurseries. With this species you can create flower beds, borders or individual hedges. It can also be grown in pots to arrange on porches or terraces.

Propagation by seeds

Seed cultivation is established during the fall, when environmental conditions are conducive to germination. Alveoli seedlings are used, a universal substrate and 2-3 seeds are placed per alveolus covered with a thin layer of substrate.

It is advisable to continuously maintain the humidity of the substrate and place it outside in full sun exposure. In this way, the seeds begin the germination process 15-20 days after sowing.

After germination, when the seedlings develop 3-4 pairs of true leaves, they are transplanted to the final pot.

Detail of the leaves of Lavandula dentata. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings for vegetative propagation are selected from apical semi-woody branches without flower buds. The cuttings are impregnated with rooting phytohormones and planted in individual pots with a universal substrate.

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in the same way during the fall to take advantage of the environmental conditions. The 12-15 cm cuttings take 3-4 weeks to root and establish strongly in the substrate.

Once the plant has taken root, an initial pruning is carried out to favor the sprouting of lateral buds. Before the end of autumn, another pruning is carried out so that, in this way, when spring arrives, the plant presents a dense foliage.

Detail of the inflorescence of Lavandula dentata. Source: pixabay.com

Care

Location

The establishment of the crop in full sun exposure is essential to meet the physiological and morphological needs of the plant. The longer time of direct solar exposure and an average temperature of 15-25 ºC guarantee the optimal development of the plant.

Floor

This plant does not present specific requirements regarding the quality of the soil, since it has the capacity to adapt to various edaphic conditions. It only requires loose, well-drained soil, so that fertility levels are minimal and the soil is calcareous in origin.

Irrigation

Lavandula dentata is a species adapted to hot and dry climates, so the frequency of irrigation must be adapted to the needs of the plant. Indeed, the irrigation application must meet its minimum requirements, without causing waterlogging in the land or substrate.

Generally, under field conditions, it is advisable to water 2 times a week during the summer and every 8-12 days the rest of the year. Grown in pots, the frequency of irrigation increases to 3 times a week during the summer and every 6-8 days the rest of the year.

fertilizer

Despite being adapted to conditions of low fertility, the application of organic fertilizers would not hurt. The monthly provision, both in pots and in the field, of compost, worm castings or guano would allow to invigorate the growth and development of the plant.

Pruning

Due to its rapid growth, it is advisable to perform more than one pruning a year in order to maintain the compact appearance of the plant. Trimming wilted flower stems and rejuvenating pruning during spring is recommended to keep the look rounded.

Severe pruning is not recommended because it causes overgrowth of side branches that interferes with its overall appearance. Maintenance pruning after flowering, eliminating flower stems and broken or diseased branches, favors the sprouting of new foliar and flower buds.

Rusticity

This particular species is very resistant to cold and heat, tolerates occasional frosts down to -6ºC and warm environments up to 40ºC. However, it is susceptible to waterlogging. For this reason, it should be grown on well-drained soils, in areas with high rainfall.

Lavandula dentata plant. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

Plagues and diseases

Lavandula dentata is a species used for biological control, so it does not usually have phytosanitary problems. Indeed, they contain certain secondary metabolites that give it properties to repel a large number of insects.

In this way, grown in full sun exposure, on well-drained soil and limited application of nitrogen fertilizers, the plant will grow without phytosanitary problems. However, when environmental conditions are adverse, it can present fungal problems caused by Armillaria spp., Phytophthora spp., Rosellinia spp. or Septoria spp.

References

1. Gutiérrez Duran, MC & Basante Pol, RM (1984). Historical and bibliographic data of the Lavandula genus. In Proceedings II Congress of the Spanish Society for the History of Sciences: Jaca, September 27-October 1, 1982 (pp. 119-136). Spanish Society for the History of Sciences and Techniques, SEHCYT.
2. Lavandula dentata (2018) Medicinal plants and their use. Recovered in: Plantasmedicinalesysuuso.com
3. Lavandula dentata. (2019) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
4. Lavandula dentata L. (2019) Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Recovered at: gbif.org
5. Lavandula dentata (2019) Botanical Garden of the University of Malaga. Recovered at: jardinbotanico.uma.es
6. Lavender Properties (2019) Botanical Online SL. Recovered at: botanical-online.com