Helichrysum italicum

Helichrysum italicum is a flowering plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. It is sometimes called the curry plant because of the strong smell of its leaves. Other common names include Italian strawflower and immortelle. It grows on dry, rocky or sandy ground around the Mediterranean. The stems are woody at the base and can reach 60 centimetres (24 in) or more in height. The clusters of yellow flowers are produced in summer, they retain their colour after picking and are used in dried flower arrangements.

Helichrysum italicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Helichrysum
Species:
H. italicum
Binomial name
Helichrysum italicum
(Roth) G. Don fil.
Synonyms

Helichrysum angustifolium

It is used as a fixative in perfumes and has an intense fragrance.[1]

This plant is sometimes used as a spice. Although called "curry plant" and smelling like curry powder, it is not related with this mixture of spices, nor with the curry tree (Murraya koenigii), and is not used as masala for curry dishes either. Rather, it has a resinous, somewhat bitter aroma reminiscent of sage or wormwood and its young shoots and leaves are often used stewed in Mediterranean meat, fish or vegetable dishes until they have imparted their flavour, and removed before serving.

Cultivation

Helichrysum italicum is a tender perennial (USDA Zones 7-10).

In Maltese it is called pjanta tal-curry.

  • Helichrysum italicum
  • Helichrysum italicum flowering
  • Close-up of inflorescences

References
  1. Inflammation: Natural Resources and Its Applications by Parag Jain, Ravindra Pandey, Shiv Shankar Shukla: Springer, India 2015 p.47

Sources
  • Frances Tenenbaum (7 October 2003). Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: The Most Authoritative Guide to the Best Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs for North American Gardens. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-618-22644-3. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  • Diana Miller (15 June 2008). 400 Trees and Shrubs for Small Spaces. Timber Press. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-88192-875-4. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  • David Burnie (1995) Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean. ISBN 0-7513-2761-1
  • T. G. Tutin et al. (1968) Flora Europaea, Volume 2. ISBN 0-521-06662-X
  • J. Mastelić, O. Politeo and I. Jerković Contribution to the Analysis of the Essential Oil of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. – Determination of Ester Bonded Acids and Phenols Molecules 2008, 13(4), 795-803 doi:10.3390/molecules13040795
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