Plant Description

History and origin

Edible coconut flesh is also known as copra. Copra oil is extracted from the flesh of the nut, or coconut oil, which has a solid texture at room temperature because of its high levels of saturated fatty acids. Copra oil is mainly used by the food industry for making pastries, candies and for frying, and it is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, which makes it even more solid.  The word "coco" appeared in the language at the beginning of the 16^th century. It comes from the Portuguese and Spanish word "coco" which means approximately bogeyman, monkey, dwarf or ghost, by referring to the fact that the shell reminds of a hairy face. The word "copra" comes from English and Portuguese, borrowed from Tamil dialect, "koppara". It refers more specifically to shelled and dried coconut. Green or immature, the nut contains about half a litre of a milky liquid (coconut water or albumen). This liquid becomes flesh as it matures. The flesh is usually dried with sun or heat to be sold under the name of copra. Commercial coconut milk and cream are made from this flesh ground with water, then filtered. Coconut oil (or coconut butter as it is solid at room temperature) is extracted from copra or fresh flesh. 

Plant Description

History and origin

The generic name Cupressus is the Latin name of the common cypress. This name comes from "Cyparissus", a figure from Greek mythology, son of Telephus, who was transformed into a cypress tree by Apollo. Cypress are trees or bushy shrubs, sempervirents, which can reach from 5 to 40 meters in height.

Romans and Egyptians dedicated this tree to the god of death. The mention "always green" in its name would remind of "still alive". Is it why cypress trees were planted in cemeteries?

Plant description

History and Origin

Eucalyptus radiata is a tree with a bluish grey trunk which may reach 30 to 50 meters in height. The flowers are grouped by 11 to 20 and are cream white. Australian aboriginals used the fresh leaves to heal their wounds. They already knew well its great antiviral and immune system stimulant properties. Eucalyptus radiata is part of all the pharmacopoeia throughout the world.

Plant Description

History and Origin

This sub shrub can reach up to 50 cm in height. Its long green three-lobed leaves with reddish veins are highly indented and velvety. The buds are pinkish; the small flowers white or purple, with five petals of which two have red striations. Geranium is now very common for its aesthetic appearance and ability to repel insects. Furthermore, this ornamental plant is well-known for its low maintenance. Today, there are hundreds of geranium species. They are spread throughout the world, in China, Morocco, Egypt, Madagascar and Réunion Island.

Geranium essential oil is used in dermatology since many years. It is particularly recommended for acne problems.

Associated to the planet Venus, geranium was often used to dilute rose oil to lower its costs. 

Plant Description

History and Origin

There are many kinds of chamomile not to be confused: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium). German chamomile grows along roads and in field edges. It has scented flowers with white petals and yellow hearts. For peoples of Northern Europe, the yellow disc of the flower represents the sun. Its Latin name Matricaria comes from "matri" which means mother because the plant was mainly used to treat "women’s problems".

Plant Description

History and Origin

There are numerous species of this plant, over a hundred. These grow in a wide variety of environments, and that characterizes the landscape of St. Lawrence Valley and North America in general. Goldenrod easily spreads owing to its prolific downy fruits (between 15 000 and 20 000 by plant). Once planted, goldenrod finds its way with its rhizomes. Goldenrods are also numerous and abundant in Europe. They are sometimes even considered as a weed plant, just like in North America. Numerous measures are taken in order to eradicate it. Goldenrod species are abundantly used by native people. Therapeutic uses are numerous. To name only a few, the plant is used as a liver stimulant, antipyretic and antidiarrheal. The Meskwaki people would also use it in children having difficulty starting to speak or laugh.

Plant Description

History and origin

Citrus paradisii is a very popular citrus in the market. It is a large fruit that ranges in diameter from approximately 10 to 15 cm, with a yellow or pink peel when ripe. However, the fruit is very much smaller than the pomelo fruit, Citrus maxima syn. Citrus grandis. When discovered in the Antilles around 18th century, the pomelo was considered as a mutation of Citrus grandis. Then, in 1847, James Mac Fayden, in his book Flore de la Jamaïque, gave it its botanical name Citrus paradisii. From 1948, one started to suspect that pomelo was in fact a hybrid of Citrus maxima x Citrus sinensis, i.e. a hybrid of grapefruit and orange. Moreover, its botanical name appears more and more often written in order to reflect this hybrid status: Citrus x paradisii.

Grapefruit tree is mainly grown in North America (Florida, California, Texas), in Brazil, in the Antilles an in Israel. Pink grapefruit is a cross between pomelo and sweet orange. Its fruit, with a thin yellow to pink peel is an edible berry slightly sweet made of a dozen of sections. It grows in bunches, hence its English name "grapefruit".

Aromatherapy 

Plant Description

History and Origin

Italian Helichrysum or Everlasting is a perrenial plant. Helichrysum comes from the greek words "helios", sun, and "chrysos", gold, because its flowers look like little gold suns. It is found almost everywhere around the Mediterranean area and in Corsica, by the sea and inland. It is used for its particular biochemical compounds.

Plant Description

History and Origin

Italian Helichrysum or Everlasting is a perrenial plant. Helichrysum comes from the greek words "helios", sun, and "chrysos", gold, because its flowers look like little gold suns. It is found almost everywhere around the Mediterranean area and in Corsica, by the sea and inland. It is used for its particular biochemical compounds.