General information about lavender
Lavender (Lavandula) is a genus of plants in the family Labiatae. The name is most often used for species grown as herbs or for decoration. The most commonly used species is Lavandula angustifolia (old name L. oficinalis). Other species often used for decoration are L. stoechas, L. dentata, L. multifida. The genus includes annual herbaceous plants, semi-shrubs and small shrubs.
Lavender has been known as an aromatic plant since ancient times. It is also widely used in traditional medicine. Its wide application is now due to the essential oil, which is extracted from the flowers (0.8 - 1.5%), which is widely used in perfumery, for flavoring soaps, in the production of paints and varnishes and more.
Lavender flower is an insecticide, mainly to control the moth and in the civilized world has replaced the use of naphthalene for domestic use.
Lavender is a valuable honey plant. From 1 decare the bees collect 10 - 18 kg of honey.
Lavender is also used as a spice. It participates in the famous mixture of spices Herbes de Provence. Lavender is also used as an anti-erosion crop, and its reduced soil requirements make it suitable for growing in areas where the main field crops cannot be grown.
Lavender originates from the Mediterranean region. As a wild plant, it is found in southern France, the coastal Alps, eastern Spain, Italy and North Africa. With the development of the perfume industry, the area of cultivation is expanding, including the Balkan countries, the countries of the Black Sea basin, the United States, Great Britain, Australia and others.
In 2012, Bulgaria was the largest producer of lavender in the world, along with France.
The culture was imported to Bulgaria in 1907 and began to be grown in the Experimental Field of Roses in Kazanlak. Until the end of the 1980's this culture was grown mainly in the regions of Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik and Blagoevgrad, and recently it is more widespread throughout the country. From 1 decare of 4 - 5 year old plantation 300 - 400 kg of flowers are produced, from which 3 - 10 kg of lavender oil are obtained. Bulgarian lavender oil is among those valued on the international market.
Classification
Lavender from the Lamiaceae family. There are about 30 species of lavender in nature.
Since 1923, a simplified classification of the lavender culture has been adopted, which divides it into 3 types:
- Common, narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula vera), which unites the species L. officinalis, L. angustifolia, L. vulgaris, L. vera;
- Deciduous lavender (Lavandula spica),which also includes the species L. latifolia;
- Hybrid lavender - between the two species (L. hybrida), also known as Lavandin type.
Biological requirements
To the light. Lavender is a light-loving crop and does not tolerate shading. The more intense solar radiation helps to accumulate more essential oil in the flowers.
To the heat. In the process of evolution and selection, the crop has adapted to harsher climatic conditions and the adult plants can withstand temperatures down to -30 ° С. Its tolerance to different thermal conditions makes it suitable for growing at altitudes from 0 to 1000 m.
To moisture. It does not tolerate excessive moisture in the soil, and high atmospheric humidity during flowering degrades the quality of the oil.
To the soil. It grows best on poor, carbonate and sandy soils, but with annual fertilization with mineral fertilizers. Unsuitable for lavender are acidic soils and soils with high groundwater.
Lavender oil
Lavender essential oil contains: linalilacetate, linalool, geraniol, borneol, cineole, pinene, camphor, coumarin and others. Linalyl acetate is the most valuable, and depending on the growing conditions this ester varies from 30 to 60%.
Bulgarian lavender oil is characterized by a lasting delicate aroma, although the content of linalilacetate is low. The Bulgarian lavender concrete is not inferior in quality to the world samples. Bulgaria is a world leader in production, growing 40,000 decares and exporting 90% of lavender oil to France, Germany, Australia and America. .
Lavender oil has a yellow-green color. Well preserved, it has a strong, rich aroma that is slightly different from the aroma of flowers. Diluted with alcohol, it acquires a delicate aroma.
Quality characteristics of Bulgarian lavender oil (according to Bulgarian State Standard):
Appearance - easily mobile transparent liquid;
Color - yellowish;
Smell - characteristic of lavender flowers;
Water content - not allowed;
Specific weight - 0.880 - 0.900
Refraction at 20 ° C - 1.46;
Polarization at 100 mm tube – -1 ° to -10 °;
Acid number - maximum 1.00;
Linalyl acetate - at least 33%;
Solubility in 70% alcohol - 1:10.