Gum rockrose
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| Cistus ladanifer L. |
The Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) is a species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae. It is a native of the western Mediterranean region, growing wild from southern France to Portugal and in north-west Africa.
It is a shrub growing 1-2.5 m tall and wide. The leaves are evergreen, lanceolate, 3-10 cm long and 1-2 cm broad, dark green above and paler underneath. The flowers are 5-8 cm diameter, with 5 papery white petals, usually with a red to maroon spot at the base, surrounding the yellow stamens and pistils. The whole plant is covered with the sticky exudate of fragrant resin.
[edit] Uses
It is a popular ornamental plant, grown for its strongly resin-scented foliage and conspicuous flowers. Its leaves yield a fragrant oleoresin known as labdanum, used in perfumes, especially as a fixative.
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