Butchers Brush
by Sam Long
Ruscus
aculeatus is a Eurasian shrub that has flat shoots which give the impression
that the shrub has sharp tipped leaves. In the middle of these stems sprouts
the flower that will blossom a fruit which will contain the seeds.
There are
many names given to Ruscus aculeatus, for example:
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Butcher's Broom
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Kneeholy, Knee Holly, Kneeholm
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Jew's Myrtle
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Sweet Broom
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Pettigree
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R. aculeatus
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Uses of:
Can be used
in medicine to enhance blood flow to
the brain, legs, and hands. It has been used to relieve constipation and water
retention and improve circulation. Since Butcher's broom tightens blood vessels
and capillaries, it is used to treat Varicose veins.
It was given
the name ‘Butcher’s Broom’ as the flat
shoots were a good material to make a broom out of and would be used my butchers
to brush up all the meat and grizzle that would get stuck on these shoots.
Interesting. It is an example of a "cladode" (look that one up!). Shows that the general structure of a plant can be very confusing ("don't flowers/fruit always grow at the end of stems? - they definitely can't grow on a leaf") and most importantly that rules we put in place to explain nature aren't always right.
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