So the Christmas season is nearly upon us and decorations have started to appear in many places around the city.
One of the traditional decorations used in this area is that of branches of Pungitopo. Although bearing a resemblance to holly (Ilex aquifolium) which is used as a Christmas decoration right across Europe, the Pungitopo is from a different family (Ruscus aculeatus), has only one very sharp thorn on the end of each leaf and has a far different and a much more interesting story behind its name and use.
A quick tour of the city of Barga this afternoon, asking people if they knew why the plant Pungitopo has that particular name drew a negative response from almost all who were questioned.
In fact it goes back to the times when hams and salami were strung up in the cellars of houses over the winter. Sprigs of Pungitopo were tied to the strings holding the precious food to stop mice from devouring the food which was intended to keep each family fed during the long winter months.
It is sometimes used for medicinal purposes as well. Apparently* is can be used for hemorrhoids, gallstones, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), and for symptoms of poor blood circulation such as pain, heaviness, leg cramps, leg swelling, varicose veins, itching, and swelling. Pungitopo is also used as a laxative, as a diuretic to increase urine output, to reduce swelling, and to speed the healing of fractures. In some cultures, the roots are eaten in much the same way as asparagus.
Il pungitopo, o pugnitopo, nome volgare del Ruscus aculeatus, comune nella macchia mediterranea, è una pianta cespugliosa sempreverde alta dai 30 agli 80 cm, provvisto di cladodi, fusti trasformati che hanno assunto la funzione delle foglie, divenendo ovali, appiattiti e rigidi, con estremità pungenti. Poco sopra la base dei cladodi, in primavera, si schiudono i minuscoli fiori verdastri, e quindi i frutti, che maturano in inverno, e che sono vistose bacche scarlatte grosse come ciliegie. È specie indicatrice di mediterraneità, costituendo una delle componenti del sottobosco delle pinete e delle leccete.
Il nome fa riferimento al fatto che anticamente i rami tagliati venivano messi attorno alle provviste, per salvaguardarle dai topi. Con il termine “pungitopo maggiore” si intende comunemente l’agrifoglio.
Altri nomi del pungitopo
Asparago Pazzo, brusasorzi, brusco, piccasorci, punziratti, rusco, ruscolo pungitopo, scope bruschie, sparacin servaggiu, spinapulici, spinatopo
*References
1. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, vol I. New York: Dover Publications, 1971, 128-9.
2. Cappelli R, Nicora M, Di Perri T. Use of extract of Ruscus aculeatus in venous disease in the lower limbs. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14:277-83.
3. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort® versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.
4. Vanscheidt W, Jost V, Wolna P, et al. Efficacy and safety of a pungitopo preparation (Ruscus aculeatus L. extract) compared to placebo in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency. Arzneimittelforschung2002;52:243-50.
5. Felix W, Schmidt Y, Nieberle J. Protective effect of Ruscus extract against injury of vascular endothelium and vascular smooth muscle caused by ethracrynic acid. Int Angiol 1983;3:77.
6. Cappelli R, Nicora M, Di Perri T. Use of extract of Ruscus aculeatus in venous disease in the lower limbs. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14:277-83.
