Rosemary
Uses for Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb
with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the
Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family
Lamiaceae, which also includes many other herbs. Forms range
from upright to trailing; the upright forms can reach 1.5 m
tall, rarely 2 m. The leaves are evergreen, 2-4 cm long and 2-5
mm broad, green above, and white below with dense short woolly
hairs. The flowers are variable in color, being white, pink,
purple, or blue.
The name rosemary has nothing to do with the rose or the name
Mary, but derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which
literally means "dew of the sea", though some think this too may
be derived from an earlier name.
The fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional
Mediterranean cuisine as a herb; they have a bitter, astringent
taste, which complements oily foods, such as lamb and oily fish.
A tisane can also be made from them. They are extensively used
in cooking, and when burned give off a distinct mustard smell,
as well as a smell similar to that of burning which can be used
to flavor foods while barbecueing.
Rosemary, in the dried form, is extremely high in iron, calcium,
and Vitamin B6. It is in fact more nutrient rich in its dry form
than fresh rosemary across the board.[1]
Since it is attractive and tolerates some degree of drought, it
is also used in landscaping, especially in areas having a
Mediterranean climate. It can in fact die in over-watered soil,
but is otherwise quite easy to grow for beginner gardeners. It
is very pest-resistant.
Rosemary is easily pruned into shapes and has been used for
topiary. When grown in pots, it is best kept trimmed to stop it
getting too straggly and unsightly, though when grown in a
garden, rosemary can grow quite large and still be attractive.
It can be propagated from an existing plant by clipping a shoot
10-15 cm long, stripping a few leaves from the bottom, and
planting it directly into soil.
more coming soon
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