Star thistle (Centaurea calcitrapa)

It is a biennial plant, as is born, grows and dies within two years. There is very high reaching 30 cm tall at best. It consists of a highly branched stem and a turnip-shaped root small. The branches grow in a very irregular, not being upright and make the plant is low but wide. The leaves are elongated, are divided into different segments and are rather slim. This plant can be found throughout the Iberian Peninsula. It breeds in places normally uncultivated and abandoned.

FLOWERING

Flowers all summer. Its flowers are quite small, usually pink. The fruits are also very small, oval-shaped pale. The whole plant is harvested during any season. The flowers are also collected and this must be done during the flowering season. Sometimes it is necessary to dry up any part of this plant, for which instead should be sunny and humidity, storing it in a site after dark.

APPLICATIONS

This plant has been used for many years. It has many common aspects with the rough centaurea, with which some people confused. The star thistle or calcitrapa-as it is also sometimes called, is a plant used as a diuretic and digestive many years. It also applies to lower a high fever. It is also used in the disinfection of wounds and injuries, although occasionally, as there are other plants more efficient to do so. Currently it is widely used and is replaced by other plants.

ADMINISTRATION

cooking. They get 10 gr. of the plant to warm up in half a liter of water are poured the remains of the plant, and adding sugar or honey to sweeten if the taste is not very pleasant. We recommend taking a cup after meals or as a digestive and diuretic.
Juice. It uses the juice from the leaves to get high fevers.
Infusion. He begins to heat a liter of water and when it begins to boil, add crushed dried flowers, are cast remains, and adding sugar or honey. This preparation is used in fevers.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Composite tubulifloras
HABITAT: Fields left the country
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Whole plant
CASTILIAN: Trepacaballos
CATALAN: Calcítrapa
BASQUE: Lubeazun
GALICIAN: Calcatripa

USES

Antipyretic Moderate, Mild diuretic, Digestive Leve.