Visnaga crinita
Visnaga crinita
Visnaga italica (Visnaga crinita (Guss.) Giardina & Raimondo, 2007) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Apiaceae family.
Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Subclass Asteridae,
Order Apiales,
Family Apiaceae,
Subfamily Apioideae,
Genus Visnaga,
V. crinita.
The following are basionyms:
– Ammi crinitum Guss. (1826);
The following are synonyms:
– Apium crinitum (Guss.) Caruel.
Etymology –
The term Visnaga comes from the Spanish bisnaga/biznaga/viznaga, which, through the Andalusian Arabic bis(s)inaqa, traces back to the Latin pastinaca; initially known as pastinaca, then Visnaga daucoides, a medicinal plant whose umbrella rays were used as toothpicks.
The specific epithet crinita comes from crínis capello, hair, hair: maned, maned due to the presence of long hairs.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Visnaga crinita is a plant endemic to Sicily and Calabria.
Its most common habitat is uncultivated areas, on clayey, humid soils, from the coast up to 800 meters above sea level. Its preferred habitat, however, is the Mediterranean coast.
Description –
Visnaga crinita is an erect annual/biennial herbaceous plant, usually 40–100 cm tall, with a cylindrical, glabrous stem, longitudinally striated, and branched at the top.
The taproot is thin, sparsely branched, and whitish.
The stem is smooth, hollow, and circular in cross-section, with secondary branches that bear the inflorescences.
The leaves are alternate, bright green, with pinnate or 2–3 times pinnate laminae, with very narrow, linear or filiform segments (feathery appearance). The leaf sheaths are elongated and embrace the stem.
The inflorescence has the typical shape of Apiaceae, with a very large compound umbel, up to 10–15 cm in diameter, composed of numerous rays (up to 50–100).
After flowering, the central rays harden and form a sort of domed “cage,” which was once used as a tool to remove foreign bodies from teeth.
The flowers are very small, white, with five petals, arranged in umbels; generally actinomorphic. Each flower has five stamens and a bicarpellary inferior ovary.
The fruits are ovoid diachenes, small (2–3 mm), brown when ripe, which separate into two dry mericarps.
The seeds are tiny, oblong, with resin ducts containing essential oils.
This species is distinguished from V. daucoides primarily by the different shape of its bracts and inflorescences, which are more hairy or bristly, hence the name “crinita.”
Cultivation –
Visnaga crinita is a plant endemic to Sicily and Calabria.
Please note that information on the cultivation, traditional uses, or specific preparation of V. crinita is very limited or absent from available sources.
Much of the available information concerns the most widespread and studied species, Visnaga daucoides.
V. crinita may have originated from this species, which is native to the Mediterranean region (North Africa, Asia, and Europe), currently cultivated in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and naturalized in South and North America, Australia, etc.
It is, however, a plant that grows well in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil, even alkaline or sandy soils.
It is sown in spring or autumn; it flowers from early summer to autumn, self-seedes, and can become invasive if left unchecked.
Uses and Traditions –
Visnaga crinita may have the same (or at least similar) properties as V. daucoides. Gussone (1826) described V. crinita in various locations in Calabria (“Inter segetes et in arvis argillosis Calabriae orientalis; Catanzaro near the Tacina River, S. Leonardo, Cassano, Francavilla”.
As for the related species V. daucoides, it has been used since ancient Egypt to relieve the pain of kidney stones; it promotes the passage of stones by relaxing the ureteral smooth muscle.
It is antispasmodic and was used in bronchial disorders (asthma, whooping cough) and cardiac disorders such as angina pectoris, thanks to coronary vasodilation.
Plant extracts of V. daucoides also exhibit antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and larvicidal properties.
It contains furanocoumarins (khellin, visnagin, khellol, khellol glucoside), pyranocoumarins (visnadin, samidin), flavonoids, sterols, and essential oil (with Camphor, linalool, carvone).
Preparation Method –
Data reported on Visnaga crinita are virtually nonexistent, so we can refer, with the obvious precautions and necessary confirmations and studies, to the data regarding V. daucoides.
The fruits (seeds) of this plant are harvested in summer, before fully ripe, and are dried for tea, tinctures, capsules, or standardized extracts.
A tea can be prepared: about 0.5 g of fruits in boiling water, let steep for 25 minutes; drink 3–4 cups daily.
Tinctures can be prepared: usually 10–60 drops daily.
The dried stems have been used as toothpicks.
The seeds, thanks to their hygienic properties, were also used to clean teeth.
In some cultures, it has been used to dye yellow, as an insect repellent, as a craft material, or as a flavoring/spiritual ingredient.
The reported side effects are related to the fact that V. daucoides may be phototoxic (sensitivity to sunlight) and a skin irritant due to the presence of furanocoumarins.
Prolonged use or use in high doses may cause nausea, dizziness, headache, and sleep disturbances; it is not recommended during pregnancy or for those with liver disease.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (eds.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and Experiences with Medicinal Herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://anthosart.florintesa.it/flora-italiana/visnaga-crinita-guss-dot-giardina-et-raimondo
– https://iiif.rbge.org.uk/herb/iiif/E00035799/full/1600,/0/default.jpg
Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and dietary uses are provided for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute medical prescriptions. We therefore decline any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic, or nutritional purposes.