Sure the name Viscose dittrichia It may not sound familiar to you, but once I tell you that this plant is popularly known as olive grove, the places where you have seen this plant will surely come to mind.
The vast majority of people look at this plant as if it were part of the weed and that they do not have the greatest importance for people and / or gardens. The fact is that they are all wrong and today you will know the reasons.
General data of the Viscose dittrichia
The Viscose dittrichia It is known under several common names, one of them is the olive grove, but it is not the only one. Besides this, it is also known as fly grassFly grass, pegamoscas, in addition to its scientific name.
It is a species that belongs to the Asteraceae family And you usually find a lot in vacant lots or on the edge of roads and abandoned structures. It is easy to distinguish it since it does not have large dimensions and at its tip it has a small yellow flower very similar to a sunflower.
And just as they can be found in wastelands, it is also common to find them in rural areasin places that have semi-urban characteristics but that the land is outdoors and under the rays of the sun. Although it can also be found on the margins of crops.
A common mistake people have to make is to confuse the olive grove or Viscose dittrichiawith the olivardilla or Dittrichia graveolens. The reason is that they are incredibly similar, only that the first one is smaller than the olivardilla.
An interesting fact about this plant is that its name refers to the shape and texture of the leaves. In a section that we will show you shortly, you will learn about the characteristics of its leaves and other parts of the plant.
It should be noted that this plant is distributed throughout the Mediterranean, except Cyprus. That is why if you are wondering where this plant comes from, it is correct to assume that it is native to the Mediterranean. It is widely distributed in Central Europe, Germany, England and even South America.
Features
Now, you already knew the most important general aspects of this simple but subtle plant. It’s time to move on to the features that allow anyone differences and identify this species.
The main thing that we will highlight about this plant is that it is a species whose flowers offer a pungent aroma but subtle and that resembles the smell of resin.
stems
The stems of the plant usually grow to a maximum height of 120 cm and a minimum height of 40 cm. These usually have a woody appearance at the base and according to the environmental and terrain conditions, they can grow up to 1.5 meters. But it usually doesn’t happen.
Given that usually grow on vacant lotsand other areas that seem abandoned at first glance, have the ability to grow in hot environments and in soils that are not very fertile or rich in minerals.
The funny thing is that just as they can withstand the heat, they are also endowed with a great capacity to withstand the cold. It is estimated that This plant can grow in areas where the temperature is below -15 ° C. This may seem like a small thing to you but it is an excellent advantage since the plant itself has beneficial properties for consumption.
Flores
As for the flowers, these are not the most important thing to highlight. They are a kind of buds whose flower petals are greyish yellow. If you look closely, they look like sunflowers. Likewise, you will also be able to appreciate the subtle aroma that these flowers have.
A fact regarding the flowering of this plant is that happens at the end of summer or does it very quickly if it is compared to any other species of plant that has flowers.
Growth ground
Now, as for the place of growth, they prefer land where the quality of the soil is incredibly poor. In addition to grow on the side of the roadas the land in these areas also lacks nutrients and minerals. The most common is to find them in areas where very few plants can grow.
This unique adaptation and growth characteristic gives its leaves and stem a dull or dull green color. Since not enough nutrients and minerals in the soilthe plant itself is not usually very striking due to its colors.
Uses
People who know a little about this plant may be surprised that despite being considered a weedhas very important and peculiar uses for people’s health.
The first one is that works like a traditional medicine for people with malaria problems. It is also often used a lot when you have urinary tract infections.
It happens that it can also be used effectively when a person is presenting excess mucus. That is, when have bronchiolitis, laryngitis, tracheitisamong other similar problems. This use has to be used just when you are starting with the nasal drippings or, failing that, when the mucus has already appeared.
Another of the uses that is usually used is for the recovery of poor soils. That is, this plant has the peculiarity of improve soil quality simply by having a large number of them.
It is for this and many other reasons that in the Middle East and in other parts of the world, the olive grove is cultivated commerciallysince it not only allows you to prepare traditional medicinal for some ailments and diseases, but at the cultivation level you have its benefits.
In the same way, the infusion through the leaves of this plant helps greatly for arthritis problems in the hands. Even the essential oil that can be extracted from this plant is very useful and effective in reducing swelling and inflammation in the body.
All this without mentioning that it has anti viral properties, which the consumption of this plant can prevent the appearance of hepatitis B and C. Of course, to achieve this, it has to be combined with other species or it would not have any positive effect on the person.
This plant is widely known in almost the entire world and its reputation comes from a long time ago, since ancient people used this plant to speed up the healing process on the skin. Not to mention that it was and is used to scent the gardens and grounds.
So as soon as you see this plant, remember it’s not a weed at allIt has incredible uses and can also give a better presence to your garden if you are interested in having this species in it.
