Spikenard

The name nard is derived from Latin , from Ancient Greek (), from (nērd). This word may ultimately derive either from Sanskrit ( 'Indian spikenard'), or from Naarda, an ancient Assyrian city (possibly the modern town of Dohuk, Iraq). The "spike" in the English name refers to the inflorescence or flowering stem of the plant. ==Description==

Nardostachys jatamansi is a flowering plant of the honeysuckle family that grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. In bloom, the plant grows to about 1 meter (3 ft) in height and has small, pink, bell-shaped flowers. It is found at an altitude of about . Its rhizomes can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic, amber-colored essential oil with a thick consistency. Oil constituents Nard oil is used as a perfume, an incense, and in Ayurvedic practices. Sesquiterpenes contribute to the major portion of the volatile compounds, with the eponymous jatamansone (also known as (-)-valeranone) being dominant. Many coumarins are also present in the oil. The alkaloid actinidine has been isolated from the oil, and valerenal alongside valerenic acid (formerly called nardal and nardin respectively). Among the other phytochemical products found in the rhizomes are: nardostachysin, a terpenoid ester; nardostachnol; nardostachnone; jatamansic acid and jatamansinone. ==History==

In ancient Rome, nardus was used to flavor wine, and occurs frequently in the recipes of Apicius. During the early Roman empire, nardus was the main ingredient of a perfume (unguentum nardinum). Gentner suggests that hirculus may be Valeriana saxatilis L., which, like Valeriana celtica, has a camphor-like odour, but it is less pleasant. Indian nard refers to Nardostachys jatamansi, stinking nard possibly to Allium victorialis, false nard to Lavandula stoechas, Syrian nard to Cymbopogon nardus, Gallic nard to Valeriana celtica, Cretan nard to Valeriana italica (syn. V. dioscoridis, V. tuberosa), and wild nard to Asarum europaeum. Field nard, or 'bacchar', has not been conclusively identified and must not be confused with species now called "baccharises" referring to species native to North America. == Culture ==

of Pope Francis. According to the Vatican, the plant is a spikenard and symbolises Saint Joseph. Spikenard is mentioned in the Bible as being used for its fragrance. In the Iberian iconographic tradition of the Catholic Church, the spikenard is used to represent Saint Joseph. The Vatican has said that the coat of arms of Pope Francis includes the spikenard in reference to Saint Joseph. Nard (Italian ) is also mentioned in the Inferno of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy: Spikenard is also mentioned as an herb protecting Saint Thecla from wild beasts in the apocryphal text The Acts of Paul and Thecla. == References ==