This species with a strictly Mediterranean-Macaronesian distribution is present in Liguria, Tuscany, in all regions of Southern Italy, and in the Islands. Ii is a typical element of the evergreen Mediterranean maquis. The species is sporadic in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with Mediterranean maquis and garrigue vegetation. This is one of the most used dyeing plants in Sardinia; the leaves or the branches are used, depending on the period in which the plant is collected, and on the colour to be achieved: the gradation ranges from pale yellow to dark yellow, brown, green, and black. The plant, for its antiseptic properties, was also used to disinfect and preserve the wool. The species of this genus were known since ancient times for their pharmacological properties, but their use is very dangerous, and often the only contact with the skin causes redness and blisters. The genus name is the ancient Greek name of laurel; the species name is derived from Knidos, an ancient Greek city in Anatolia (Latin: Cnidus, ancient Greek: Knidos), currently called Cumali. Flowering period: July to September. |
Italian name(s): (Toscana), Camelea (Calabria), Cecavocchioli mascoli (Campania, Ischia), Cocco cnidio (Toscana), Cocco gnidio (Toscana), Coccognidio (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Dafne gnidio (Italia), Dittinella (antichi), Erba corsa (Toscana), Erva zasa (Sicilia), Garoup (Liguria, Nizza), Isculapadeddas (Sardegna, Sassari), Lassa (Liguria, Barassi), Latticugno (Calabria), Ligni prischi (Campania, Capri), Mardvana (Liguria, Zinola), Mazza pei vescicanti (Campania, Pozzuoli), Mucchitiello (Puglia, Barletta), Olivastra (Roma), Olivella (antichi), Paparia (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Pepe di montagna (Roma), Pepe montano (Toscana), Piperea (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Puparia (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Pupiraglia (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Pupirata (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Pupirea (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Purpuraglia (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Scolapadeddas (Sardegna, Sassari), Scorza di vescicanti (Campania, Terra di Lavoro), Spezzi sarvaggiu (Sicilia), Tasso (Calabria), Timelea (Toscana), Trobiscu (Sardegna), Truiscu (Sardegna, Cagliari), Truvusciu (Sardegna), Truvuzu (Sardegna), Tueisegue (Liguria, Nizza), Unchiamano (Calabria), Vaccinia (Calabria), Varacu (Sicilia, Mirto), Varagu (Liguria, San Remo), Varego (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Varighina (Liguria, Camporosso), Varracchieddu (Sicilia, Modica), Varracheddu (Sicilia, Avola), Varrau (Sicilia), Varricu (Sicilia, Modica), Viperea (Puglia, Lecce, Otranto), Zasa (Sicilia), Zaza (Sicilia).
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