Abstract:
The present paper deals with the genus Sideritis of the Labiatae family commonly known in Greece as "mountain tea". It is growing wild in rock crevices of hard limestones and in rocky places.
It thrives best at an altitude of more than 1000 m up to alpine zone and it is also cultivated by man.
The droge contains on the average 0.1% essential oil including more than sixty constituents which have recently been isolated.
Sideritus scardia Griseb. is widely distributed in Greece.
It contains saponine, flavonoids and it has a high iron content.
Also it contains various other elements.
The presence of saponine which affects favorably the upper respiratory track explains partially the popularity which the droge enjoys among Greeks as it is used as a drink especially during cold weather.
Cultural methods are also discussed.
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