"Lsiġra kasta (Ħaruf Vitex castus) is a shrub belonging to the botanical family of Verbenaceae. It grows wild in the Mediterranean area, but is often grown in gardens for ornamental purposes, thanks to its pleasant aroma, rich foliage and abundant colorful flowering. It has also been known since ancient times for its particular medicinal properties. It is enough to investigate the origins of the botanical nomenclature to understand what kind of plant it is and what its traditional uses are.
In this article we will discover the botanical characteristics of the agnastocastus, the organic cultivation techniques of the plant in the garden, the medicinal properties, the ancient uses and those still valid today.
Origin of the name Agnocasto
L-isem Ħaruf Vitex castus it derives first of all from the Latin term vitilium= to weave, with reference to the flexible but strong and hard branches of the plant, which the Latins used to weave wicker and for the internal latticework of the houses. The name of the species agnus castus instead it derives from the Latin terms agnus= lamb and castitas= chastity, and evokes the alleged ability of the plant to suppress libido in those who take it.
In Anglo-Saxon countries the plant is called siġra kastaor siġra kasta. Another vulgar name is pepper of the monks, false pepper or siġra tal-bżaras the monks used to use the fruits, similar to black pepper, as a spice and condiment in the kitchen.
Storja tal-pjanta
Already in ancient Greece, during the festivities in honor of the goddess Demeter, celebrated only by women, they adorned themselves with the flowers of the chaste tree and slept on layers of this plant, guardian of their purity and virginity. In medieval times these beliefs were taken up by the Catholic Church: the agocasto was planted in the gardens of the monasteries, and flowers, leaves and fruits were placed in bags to be kept under the monks’ bed.
Description of the chaste tree
The chaste tree grows spontaneously in a shrubby form and usually measures between 1 and 3 m. It can also be grown as a sapling, in which case it can even measure 6 m in height.
The trunks are twisted and have a yellowish-gray bark with evident vertical cracks. The young branches have a quadrangular section, are grayish and downy
The foliage is densely branched, with a pendulous posture.
The whole plant gives off a strong but pleasant scent, especially with the leaves and flowers.
Weraq
The chaste tree is a deciduous species, which sheds its leaves in late autumn. These are opposite on the branches, with a digitiform lamina, composed of 5-7 lanceolate segments that meet at the point of intersection of the petiole. The shape is very similar to that of weraq tal-kannabisso much so that agnocasto in English is also called hemp tree.
The smell of the foliage, on the other hand, is very similar to that of sage officinalis and also the color, verge-greyish (but paler and more pubescent on the underside), is very similar to that of these last leaves.
Fjuri u frott
The flowers of the chaste tree are very pleasing, both aesthetically and for the scent emanating.
The color of the inflorescences is typically blue-purplish (white or pink in particular varieties). They are found united in more or less spaced whorls and arise at the apex of the branches.
Overall, the flowers form long erect spikes. The single flowers of the ear have a short, campanulate calyx with 5 teeth, a tubular corolla at the base which opens into 5 unequal lobes, 4 stamens inserted on the tube, 1 filiform style. They are hermaphrodites.
Flowering occurs between June and July on the youngest branches and is very popular with bees and other pollinating insects.
Frott
In autumn the flowers give rise to small fruits, drupes of 3-4 mm in diameter with a slightly elongated shape, of a reddish-black color, not very fleshy and with 4 seeds inside similar to black pepper.
How to grow the chaste tree
The chaste tree is a typically Mediterranean species that does not tolerate intense frost. It can withstand sporadic, but not continuous frosts. However, if an adult chaste tree were destroyed by frost, it would be able, in the following spring, to throw back suckers and, therefore, recreate new stems from the basal stock.
It arises spontaneously along streams and in wetlands, and this suggests that it does not like aridity. It also likes a very sunny exposure, but sheltered from the wind.
The ideal growing medium should be light to taħlita medjafresh, with a good amount of organic substance e pH with neutral reaction.
Given these general conditions, the plant is perfect for cultivation for ornamental purposes in Mediterranean gardens, where there is the possibility of irrigation in the summer months and in areas sheltered from the winds, thanks to the presence of walls or other windbreak trees.
Riproduzzjoni
The chaste tree can be easily reproduced with the techniques of żriegħ direttmill- saffimill- qtugħ u,split graft. In the home, the most practical solutions are sowing and cutting, let’s see them individually.
Żrigħ
The sowing of the chaste tree is carried out in spring, using the sodda taż-żerriegħa and using a substrate mix consisting of a loam like thisu ta ' perlit (or, alternatively, some sand).
The born seedlings can be planted when they have exceeded 10 cm in height. For the first year of life they should be watered regularly in spring and summer.
qtugħ
Chaste tree cuttings should be taken between July and August, using young lateral shoots, so they will be semi-woody cuttings of portions of branches of the year plus a piece of bearing branch. These cuttings must be about 10 cm long and will be put to root in a mixture like the one seen above, to always be kept well moist. They will then be placed in a shady place. In the following spring, they can be planted in their final location.
Transplant distance
When planting the chaste tree in the garden, its future development must be taken into account. If grown as a shrub, consider that it does not reach large in height, but still forms a beautiful bush.
In the sapling shape it is above all the foliage that widens.
The roots create no problems whatsoever for sidewalks and walls.
The advice we give is to keep at least 3-4 m of free space around the plant.
In the case of purchasing nursery-grown plants, the best times for planting are autumn and early spring.
irrigazzjoni
In the cultivation of the agnus tree in the garden it will be necessary to give water especially in the first summer after planting. In the following years, always in summer, it is enough not to let the soil dry out too much, therefore watering even only once a week.
In the other seasons, the plant does not need support irrigation.
Fertilizzazzjoni
A good fertilization of the plant is advisable at the time of planting. To do it, it is enough to amend in the planting hole of the organic fertilizer, such as the demel matur jew il-ħumus tal-ħniex.
Pruning of the chaste tree
Agnycasto reacts very well to pruning cuts, emitting numerous shoots at the cut points. For this reason, if on the one hand it can be cut at will without running the risk of damaging the plant, on the other hand we must be careful not to cause vegetative growths with pruning. The advice is to keep the plant in order by widening the crown in the center and eliminating the dry branches or damaged by the cold.
Parassiti
The parasites that can infest the chaste tree are mainly the afidi in spring. The leaves are attached to the lower page and are recognized, as well as by the presence of honeydew u fumagginelooking crumpled.
To eliminate the aphids it is necessary to act promptly with abundant wetting of water and sapun tal-potassju artab.
Mard
The problems of fungal diseases are due to root rot that is created due to poor soil drainage. To prevent these rot it is therefore necessary to ensure a draining soil and avoid overdoing the irrigation.
The composition of the chaste tree
We now come to study the properties of the chaste tree starting from its chemical composition. The part used in herbal medicine are ripe and well dried fruits. These contain:
- żejt essenzjalicomposed mainly of monoterpene and sesquiterpene derivatives (cineole, limonene, camphor, sabinene, etc.);
- flavonoids, including casticin and vitexin;
- two iridoidoglycosides, namely agnuside and aucubin;
- the amaro castina principle;
- terpenes, traces of fatty acids, alkaloids (viticin), vitamin C and carotenes.
The uses of the chaste tree
Agnocasto is recognized as having useful properties for control and regulation of the female ovulatory system. The main biological activity seems to be carried out at the level of the lower lobe of the pituitary, which would be stimulated by the production of hormones by the corpus luteum.
It is therefore indicated in haemorrhages caused by insufficiency of the corpus luteum, in menorrhagia (excessively abundant or prolonged menstrual flow) and metrorrhagia (haemorrhage of the uterus not linked to the menstrual cycle.
Furthermore, it can be used in premenstrual syndrome due to hyperfollicolinism, in water retention in the premenstrual period, in hormone-dependent juvenile acne, in hyperprolactinemia and in the early stages of menopause for the management of climacteric disorders (hot flashes).
It should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
il extracts are sold in herbal medicine in the form of supplements and dropsto always be used under medical supervision.
Ibda Thread ġdid