Qahr al-luhum

Qahr al-luhum

From this sentence in Arabic, which literally means wound in the flesh, certainly does not smell of roses (rotting meat), hence the name of European Caralluma, also called Ragged Tiger, the only one of its kind to live in Italy right in our island. Discovered by Giovanni Gussone on his journey to Lampedusa in 1828 and described in his work, Flora Sicula, in 1832. Caralluma europaea is the only species with a succulent stem of the Italian flora. A highly specialized plant, it lives in desert areas of North Africa, in Europe only in Lampedusa. According to recent studies, the metabolism of these plants, like others, produces volatile chemicals, essential oils that perform important ecological functions, including that of removing herbivores, attracting insects and reducing the root system. Of course, given the smell, the pollinating insects that most frequent these plants are flies, but there is also a butterfly that lays eggs in dried fruit, follicles, of these plants of Danaus chrysippus, another champion, which we will talk about in a Next article. European caralluma, is therefore a special plant, which in just 10-15 centimeters in length contains many secrets and resists despite adversity.

Caralluma europea – strefano greco

Caralluma europea – Stefano Greco owner