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An itinerant observer and thinker about life in general, sharing some moments of wandering and wonderment.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

BUTCHER'S BROOM

  Well you learn something every day. All I had intended to do for a post tonight was a photograph of a rather stunning looking plant that grows in the garden here ...
It's a member of the Asparagaceae family! 
It's known mainly as Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) but is also known by other names such as ... Knee Holly, Box Holly,Jew's Myrtle, Sweet Broom and Pettigree. 
This spiky, tough leaved leaved plant was once used by butchers to scrub their chopping boards clean. Now that I knew, but decided to google it and came up with loads of info on it's medicinal properties ... the early Greeks used it as a tonic. It is still used today for its medicinal qualities. Google it yourself and I think you will be amazed at what you come up with, it makes quite fascinating reading, though it doesn't mention the fact that it produces it's red berries in time for Christmas so makes and ideal festive decoration!
So there you go, another thing learned today!

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