Орлая великоквіткова

Botany

White lace flower (Orlaya grandiflora) is a plant of the Apiaceae (carrot/parsley) family. Apiaceae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants, also called Umbelliferae. It grows in southern, central and western Europe, in the Caucasus region and in central and southwestern Asia, in a dry and warm habitat.

It is a branching annual with jaggedly divided leaves and white flowers in flattish umbels, the inner flowers small and the outermost with enlarged rays, giving a lacy effect. Growing to 90 cm, it bears flattish panicles of pure white flowers over a long period in summer. The flowers are attractive to insects.

Cultivation

It is grown in a sunny open position in well-drained or poor soil. It is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It is propagated by seed in spring for summer and autumn flowering, or sown in autumn for early-flowering large plants. It is suggested for cut flowers, cottage and informal gardens, and wildflower meadows.

Essential oil

The essential oil of the aerial parts was analysed in two samples, one collected in Serbia and one in Montenegro. The oils were analysed using GC-MS and GC-FID methods. In both samples the main class of volatiles was sesquiterpenes, at 47.5% in the Serbian sample and 70.1% in the Montenegrin one. The main constituents of the Serbian oil were germacrene D (29.5%), sabinene (11.5%) and terpinen-4-ol (9.6%). In the Montenegrin oil the most abundant compounds were β-elemene (22.7%), germacrene D (14.3%) and germacrene A (12.5%). An earlier report gave sabinene (25.4%) and α-pinene (9.6%) as major compounds of the oil. Climate conditions, and also type of soil, have a big influence on the biosynthesis of individual terpenes.

Other uses

Ethnobotanical studies indicate a laxative effect of the aboveground part of the plant prepared in the form of a decoction. Research indicates that an extract of the plant has an insecticidal and inhibitory effect on the growth of Spodoptera littoralis larvae.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: Abelia · Almond Blossom · Alpha Terpineol · Alstroemeria · Alumroot · Amarillys · Amazon Moonflower · Amethyst Flower