''Helichrysum italicum'' is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

. 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 Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa ...

. The stems are woody at the base and can reach 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. It is used as a fixative in perfumes and has an intense fragrance. This plant is sometimes used as a spice. Although called "curry plant" and smelling like

curry powder Curry powder is a spice mix originating from the Indian subcontinent where it is typically called garam masala. History Key ingredients of curry powder consist of ginger, garlic, fennel, mace, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric ...

, it is not related with this mixture of spices, nor with the curry tree ('' Murraya koenigii''), and is not used as masala for

curry A curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, mainly associated with South Asian cuisine. In southern India, leaves from the curry tree may be included. There are many varieties of curry. The choice of spices for each dish in trad ...

dishes either. Rather, it has a resinous, somewhat bitter aroma reminiscent of

sage Sage or SAGE may refer to: Plants * ''Salvia officinalis'', common sage, a small evergreen subshrub used as a culinary herb ** Lamiaceae, a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family ** ''Salvia'', a large ...

or wormwood and its young shoots and leaves are often used stewed in

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). It is propagated by rooting semi-hardwood cuttings in summer and overwintering in frost-free conditions. In Maltese it is called pjanta tal-curry. Image:Helichrysum italicum.jpg, ''Helichrysum italicum'' Image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg, ''Helichrysum italicum'' flowering File:Curry-plant-blooming.JPG, Close-up of inflorescences

References

Sources

* * * David Burnie (1995) Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean. * T. G. Tutin ''et al.'' (1968) Flora Europaea, Volume 2. * 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

External links

Plants for a Future database
* italicum Medicinal plants of Europe Plants described in 1830 {{Gnaphalieae-stub