Cistus laurifolius It is an evergreen shrub belonging to the Cistaceae family. It inhabits many European countries and is commonly known as: mountain steppe, steppe rockrose, argentí, bordiol, laurel leaf rockrose, borda steppe, white rockrose, sap rockrose, jaracepa, jaristepa, radish grass and churrunera.
The mountain steppe is about 2 m high, has erect greyish stems and its inflorescence is cimosa in the shape of an umbel and with white flowers. It blooms from May to July.
This plant has medicinal properties for the treatment of various conditions, especially to treat wounds, both in humans and animals. An important aspect is that, unlike other rockrose, this species has toxic substances that can affect goats and sheep, as well as people with diabetes.
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It is a woody shrub that is between 1 and 3 m tall. Its stems are erect, greyish in color, with detachable bark in brownish-red, non-sticky strips..
The leaves of this shrub are between 4 and 9 cm long by 2 or 3 cm wide, with an elliptical shape, long petiole. As in the rest of the cysts, its leaves have three main veins.
For its part, the inflorescence is cimosa and has the shape of an umbel. In this inflorescence, about nine white flowers develop with a yellow spot at their base, with petals that measure between 2 and 3 cm. The size of the stamens is uneven.
With regard to flowering, this occurs from May to July.
The fruit of these plants is capsule type and measures 9 to 12 mm, it is ovoid and, as in other rockrose, it opens through five valves.
Its taxonomic classification is as follows:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Magnoliidae
Superorder: Rosanae
Order: Malvales
Family: Cistaceae
Gender: Cistus
Species: Cistus laurifolius L. (1753).
This plant is distributed in Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Corsica, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, among others. It is a species that abounds in the Iberian Peninsula and is scarce on the Atlantic coast.
Its habitat is found in oak groves, pine forests, holm oaks, steppes and places with a lot of grass; also in soils of the Mediterranean mountains.
It grows in soils with a high content of silica and also in decalcified limestone soils. The altitude at which it grows is around 400 and 1900 meters above sea level..
The mountain steppe has certain medicinal properties, which have been used to treat stomach pains through the decoction of a mixture of rosemary leaves and wild marjoram on an empty stomach..
The decoction of its leaves is also used on an empty stomach to treat duodenal ulcers. Otherwise, the joint parts of this plant are also used as an anti-inflammatory in cases of bruises..
At the same time baths prepared with it are applied to relieve rheumatic pain in the extremities, healing the cracks that form in the skin due to exposure to cold..
Like other rockrose or steppes, it is used in medicine mainly to disinfect wounds or as an antiseptic to treat sores. In this sense, the decoction of its leaves is also prepared in conjunction with other species such as mountain elm, thyme and yarrow. To do this, it is applied with the help of a cotton ball to accelerate wound healing..
During the winter, cattle (especially goats) feed on its branches, fruits and leaves. It is a plant widely used in hives because bees take advantage of it for its large amount of pollen.
With regard to its use in the veterinary area, the decoction of the leaves is given to drink to animals with stomach conditions. This same decoction can also be applied to the infected udders of goats and sheep..
While, the cows are given the decoction of the leaves in red wine to help them in the expulsion of the remains of the placenta after calving..
In horses, this shrub is used to treat bruises. To do this, the injured area is scrubbed with the decoction of the leaves and branches..
Likewise, it is used as a Vulnerary or poultice to disinfect wounds and sores in cattle..
Another known use is that the woody part is used to heat bread ovens and tiles. In addition, the branches are used as fine firewood to light or light the fire.
On the other hand, the crushed bark is used as a tanning agent, and its dry branches are used to make resistant and hard brooms to sweep the streets in some Spanish cities..
Curiously, in some places like Segovia, the leaves of these plants allowed us to predict the weather. To do this, the villagers observed the change in color of its leaves from green to blue to consider that "good weather" would soon arrive..
It should be noted that the uses of this shrub, especially in veterinary applications, are no longer in force, nor is it currently used for firewood..
Jaracepa is recognized for the toxicity it produces on goats or sheep, who by eating the buds of this plant or a large number of flowers can get “drunk” and die.
Likewise, its toxicity on humans is known, since people with diabetes cannot use this plant in any way, not even in the topical applications that are described to treat other conditions..
In general, the cultivation of this species of Cistus It is not so recommended because it has substances that can inhibit the growth of other plant species. However, for people who want to grow it, the following cares are recommended:
- Grow it in a place with acidic pH and with good drainage.
- Sow it with some protection against the action of the wind, for example by placing stakes around it so that it can be supported.
- Carry out an annual pruning, only pointing the branches after flowering.
- Avoid transplanting it as they have little chance of establishing successfully.
Like other rockrose species, this plant is resistant to attack by pests and diseases. However, waterlogging conditions can cause the proliferation of fungi and with it the development of diseases that can cause the death of the plant..
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