Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula), a genus of labiate plants, having the stamens and style within the tube of the corolla, the upper lip of the corolla bifid, the lower trifid. The Common or Narrow-leaved Lavender (L. vera or L. angustifolia), grows wild on stony mountains and hills in the south of Europe, and in more northern regions is very generally cultivated in gardens. It has a delightful aromatic fragrance, and an aromatic bitter taste, and contains a great quantity of a volatile oil, oil of lavender. The whole plant possesses stimulant properties, and is used in medicine, but particularly the spikes of the flowers, as a tonic, stomachic, nervous stimulant, &c. Lavender-flowers are often put into wardrobes to keep away moths, and are much used in perfumery. Oil of Lavender is procured by distillation of lavender-flowers with water, and is rather lighter than water, pale yellow, very fluid, and very fragrant; it requires 70 lb. of flowers to yield 1 lb. of oil. Spirit of Lavender is made by distilling lavender-flowers with rectified spirit; Lavender Water, one of the most popular of all perfumes, by dissolving oil of lavender with smaller quantities of other volatile oils in rectified spirit. Lavender is extensively cultivated for its flowers at and near Mitcham in Surrey, and at Hitchin (q.v.) in Hertfordshire. Broad-leaved Lavender (L. latifolia or L. spica) is also a native of the south of Europe, but is more tender than common lavender. It is also less fragrant, and the oil which it yields is called Oil of Spike, and sometimes Foreign Oil of Lavender. This oil is used by painters on porcelain, and in the preparation of varnishes.