501. Lavandula.—Garden Lavender. 501a. Oleum Lavandulae Florum.—Oil of Lavender Flowers.
501. LAVANDULA.—GARDEN LAVENDER. The flowers of Lavan'dula ve'ra De Candolle. Calyx tubular, blue-gray, hairy, 5-toothod; corolla violet-blue, hairy, and glandular on the outside, tubular and 2-lipped; odor characteristic, somewhat camphoraceous. Stimulant and carminative. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (1 to 2 Gm.).
501a. OLEUM LAVANDULAE FLORUM, U.S.—OIL OF LAVENDER FLOWERS. A volatile oil distilled from the fresh flowers of Lavan'dula officina'lis Chaix. French oil contains linalool, geraniol, partly free and partly as ester, principally as acetate, but in small part. Also as propionate, butyrate and valerianate. English oil contains linaloyl acetate and free linalool, also limonene and sesquiterpene, and cineol.
U. S. P. IX gives quantitative test for esters.
ACTION AND USES.—Used as perfumery and as flavoring agent in certain pharmaceuticals.
- OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS.
- Spiritus Lavandulae (5 per cent. of the oil).
- Tinctura Lavandulae Composita (0.8 per cent. of the oil, with oil of rosemary, Saigon cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and red saunders). Dose, 30 drops (2.0 Mils).
OIL OF SPIKE, used as an embrocation in rheumatic affections, is obtained by distillation of the leaves, tops, etc., of Lavandula spica.
