Dittany smell like a goat?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
July 5, 2002
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Dittany (Dictamnus albus Linnaeus) is a perennial native to warm temperate climates from southern Europe to northern China. This beautiful plant is in the Rutaceae or citrus family known for their essential oils. John Gerard (The Herbal, 1633 ed.) called it Fraxinella (like an ash), "Bastard Dittanie is a very rare and gallant plant...garnished with leaves...like the leaves of the Ash tree, but blacker, thicker, and more full of juice, of an unpleasant savor...loathsome...almost
like the smell of a goat...."
Dittany, like rue and citrus, produces phototoxic furocoumarins. Specifically, dittany contains 5-methoxypsoralen (bergapten or 5-MOP) and xanthotoxin (8-MOP) which cause phytophotodermatitis. The mechanism of toxicity to humans depends upon the chemicals' exposure high energy photons (300 to 350 nm UV).
A bizarre rash shows up about 24 hours after contact with the furocoumarins and exposure to sunlight. Unlike a poison ivy rash that may appear under clothing, furocoumarin rashes happen only on skin exposed to sunlight or sunlamps.
It is dittany's aromatic oil (smell of a goat) that gives the plant an unusual characteristic. In ancient Rome, Dictamnus referred to an aromatic plant believed to have magical powers. Dittany's essential oil volatilizes when temperatures climb; the plant stands in an aromatic plume warning away insects. The plume is flammable and on still, hot summer evenings the cloud of gas will magically flame-off when ignited.
The Terra Foundation of Hungary has four beautiful photographs of Dictamnus albus. To view, click on the link:
Click on each thumbnail to enlarge the image.
http://www.terra.hu/haznov/htm/Dictamnus.albus.html
Series: | 1 | | 2 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Of witches, werewolves, and UFOs Herbal Folklore - October 29, 2001
What are witches' brooms? Weird Plants - October 31, 2002
Where do the little people live? Herbal Folklore - October 28, 2002
What is sorcerer's garlic? Herbal Folklore - March 4, 2002
How did foxes use these gloves? What's in a Name? - November 1, 2002
 
A painful landing by a passing witch
draws travelers to a roadside pumpkin patch
Stephen St. John/National Geographic
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