Daphne gnidium

Daphne gnidium, called torvisco or torrisco, is a shrub of the Timeleaceae family.

Inflorescence with fruit.

Plant view.

Detail of the flowers.

Habitat

It is a plant distributed throughout the Mediterranean region, in almost the entire Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic archipelagos, and North Africa, where it grows in scrub, pine forests, and uncultivated land from sea level to 1,400 meters above sea level.

In the Alpujarra region of Granada, in the heart of the Sierra de la Contraviesa, is the municipality of Torvizcón, a place name that means 'land of the torvisco'.

Description

It is a shrub with many sword-shaped leaves, all directed upwards: perhaps, it could be confused with a Euphorbia, but cutting a leaf quickly shows that no white latex comes out. It develops white flowers in late summer and fall. You have to be careful with this plant because it is irritating.

Its fruit is red, in berry. It has lanceolate, narrow leaves. Given the powerful purgative effect of the bark and leaves of the torvisco, it is considered poisonous, since it can cause blisters on the skin after prolonged contact.

Properties

The torvisco is a shrub with surprising properties. It has been used as an amulet and repellent of evil spirits since Prehistory. It is the best plant species in the Iberian Peninsula to make ligatures, its bark is a natural rope due to its flexibility and resistance, with which very firm knots can be made. In some areas of Zamora it is customary to tie a leash of Daphne gnidium to the tail of the lambs as a remedy to stop stomach decomposition; Its value is also known as an insecticide in the chicken coop, to keep the chickens safe from the louse. This species has been used, since time immemorial, as a means of fishing in lagoons and streams: its toxic resin attacks the oxygen in the water, so throwing branches of this plant poisoned the fish which, after two or three hours, just had to pick up. This form of fishing is known as "entorviscar " and in addition to being dangerous because it is indiscriminate, it is punishable by law in Spain.

Taxonomy

Daphne gnidium was described by Carlos Linnaeus and published in Species Plantarum 1: 357-358. 1753.

Etymology

Daphne; generic name that we find mentioned for the first time in the writings of the Greek physician, pharmacist and botanist who practiced in ancient Rome, Dioscorides. Probably in the denomination of some plants of this genus the legend of Apollo and Daphne is remembered. Daphne's name in Greek means 'laurel', as the leaves of these plants are very similar to those of the laurel.

gnidium: geographical epithet that alludes to its location in Gnido.

Sinonimia

• Mistralia gnidium (L.) Fourr.
• Thymelaea gnidium (L.) All.
• Laureola gnidium (L.) Samp. ex Pereira
• Daphne paniculata Lam.
• Daphne orthophylla St.-Lag.

Common name

• Castellano: bufalaga, chorovisco, chorvisco, matagallina, matapollera, matapollo, matapulgas, torvisco, torvisquera, torvizco, trovisco.