1. Definition of aromatic plants

Aromatic plants are a general term for cultivated plants and wild plants that have aroma and extractable aromatic oils, and are a group of plants that share the attributes of medicinal plants and spice plants.

2. Aromatic plant types

According to the release parts of plant aroma, aromatic plants can be divided into four main types: floral, leafy, fruity and other types.

2.1 Floral

The floral organs of these plants, including petals and stamens, exude aromas and are the main type of aromatic plants, including numerous woody and herbaceous flowers, such as:

Osmanthus fragrans, Michelia alba, Magnolia denudata, Chimonanthus praecox, Gardenia jasminoides, Jasminum sambac, Murraya exotica, Michelia Figo) and so on.

2.2 leafy

Most of the leaves of these plants have transparent oil gland points, which are crystal clear, and the leaf cells contain many volatile oils, such as:

Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus nobilis, Cinnamomum japonicum, Sabina pingii var.wilsonii, Rosmarinus officinalis, Agastache rugosa and many Rutaceae plants .

2.3 fruity

A type of plant that produces and releases flavor, many of which are edible fruits, such as:

Citrus reticulata, Citrus limon, Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, Malus pumila, Punica granatum, Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa), Passifloracoerulea, etc.

2.4 other classes

The aroma of some plants can also be emitted from roots, branches or stems, such as:

Cryptomeria fortunei, Taxus chinensis, Toona sinensis, Sabina vulgaris, Acorus calamus, etc.

3. The function of aromatic plants

3.1 Tour function

Aromatic plants have a specific ornamental meaning, which can form a unique artistic conception of garden plants, such as the vigorousness of pine and cypress, the elegance of orchids, and the fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus.

There are many precedents for the application of aromatic plants in China's classical gardens, such as the “Wenmu Xuan Xuan” of Suzhou Lingyuan and the “Yuanxiangtang” of Humble Administrator's Garden. In addition to the visual beauty, these plants can also bring olfactory pleasure.

Aromatic plants are used for landscaping, which can make the greening effect achieve the unity of vision and smell. It can also release a variety of volatile substances, affect the activities of animals, plants and microorganisms, regulate the ecological balance, and exert more rich ecological effects.

3.2 health care function

Aromatic plants are used in health care, also known as Aromatherapy. The concept was first proposed by the French chemist Gattefossé in 1936. It refers to the use of inhaled fragrances or volatile substances to treat, alleviate or prevent diseases, infections and discomforts. Methods.

The role of aromatic plants in health care can be divided into two aspects:

3.2.1 Physiological aspects

The ancient Chinese plant spices used in health care records: Huaying used Syringa plus musk and other sachets and fragrant balls to treat respiratory infections, vomiting and diarrhea. In fact, natural spices and traditional Chinese medicine are in the same line. For example, the aroma of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema morifolium) can cure colds, eyelids, headaches, and dizziness; the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus has the functions of clearing the lungs, relieving depression, and avoiding phlegm.

Shanghai Minhang Sports Park has the first health-care aromatic botanical garden in China. The park is divided into two functional areas: “helping sleep” and “lowering blood pressure”. Tests have shown that 90% of experienced people have a significant improvement in nighttime sleep, and 70% of hypertensive patients have different degrees of blood pressure after smelling.

According to research by Professor Yao Lei, director of the Aromatic Plant R&D Center of Shanghai Jiaotong University, the volatiles of aromatic plants such as geraniol, linalool, linalyl acetate, and tetracycline are used to control patients with moderate to mild hypertension. The blood pressure "Morning Peak phenomenon" has practical effects.

3.2.2 psychological aspects

Elegant aroma, refreshing, refreshing, can increase the excitability of nerve cells, giving people a pleasant feeling, improving mood, eliminating fatigue and regulating the immune system. For example, the fragrance of Matthiolaincana and Rosa rugosa can give a hearty and pleasant feeling; the orchid (Orchidaceae) can relieve the boring and melancholy; the rosemary and mint (Mentha) fragrance can be imagined. Have a good promotion.

3.3 disinfection

A variety of aromatic and lower vinegar compounds such as alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, olefins, ethers, and stilbenes contained in plant aromas, and other antioxidants and antibacterial substances, The role of air circulation can spread to the surrounding environment to achieve the role of killing germs and purifying the air. Among them, clove, osmanthus, camphor, pine (Pinaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and other bactericidal effects are particularly obvious.

In addition, marigold (Tageteserecta), lavender, and pepperwood (Zanthoxylumbeecheyanum ‘Odorum’) have the effect of repelling mosquitoes.

4. Application range

The “fragrance of plants” of plants is not restricted by sight. In garden applications, they can be divided into:

4.1 main scene

The use of aromatic plants as the main body of the plant landscape, with a large area of aromatic plants to bring olfactory and visual shock to visitors. For example, the Fragrance Garden in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is the first garden in the United States designed for the blind. It is planted with a variety of aromatic flowers, and the blind can distinguish different plants with different aromas. There is also the Aroma Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Canada and the Lavender Garden in Hokkaido, Japan.

4.2 health care

Mainly based on the basic principles of aromatherapy, through the aroma of plants to achieve a fitness and fitness purposes.

The Minhang Sports Park in the sea is designed to use the aromatic plants to design two functional areas of “helping sleep” and “lowering blood pressure”.

Or build an "Aromatic Plant Sightseeing Garden", which uses a variety of floral and fruity plants to allow visitors to participate in farming, harvesting, harvesting, etc., to provide activities such as viewing, eating, and smelling, to alleviate the environment, mood, and The physical and mental pressures to avoid the "civilized disease" and achieve the goal of healthy body and mind.

4.3 dotted with landscape

It is an application form that uses aromatic plants as a setting environment. According to the different ecological and biological characteristics of aromatic plants, it is organically and rationally matched with other main plants, and is applied to various garden green spaces in various forms such as flower beds, flower borders, flowers, and trees. It has a wide range of practical applications and flexible forms. Diversified, easy to apply and manage, is the most common form of aromatic plant application.

The use of aromatic plants in gardens can make people “only smell their fragrance, not see their flowers”, thus enticing visitors to find and explore, which can make the garden more pleasant and interesting.

5. Notes on the application of aromatic plants

There are many kinds of aromatic plants. Some plants have too strong aroma, which may make people uncomfortable, cause skin allergies and even harmful to human health. Therefore, the choice of aromatic plants must be cautious.

Pay attention to the effects of different fragrance combinations. Generally, one or two types or types of aromatics should be used, and the types and quantities of other aromatic plants should be properly controlled to avoid adverse effects caused by aroma. Also pay attention to the distance between people and "fragrance source", such as Alstoniascholaris, Telosma cordata and other plants with too strong aroma, should reduce the number of planting, while avoiding too close to people.

Aromatic plants should be planted in a good airflow direction, which is conducive to the spread of the fragrance, but also avoids the concentration of the fragrance caused by poor ventilation.