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Soapwort (Saponaria Officinalis)


Soapwort (Saponaria Officinalis)
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 653 W: 0 N: 1622] (5298)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-26
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Panasonic DMC TZ4
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-05 5:18
Viewed: 475
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi everyone, I am finally back because I miss TN even though my time is now scarce as I started working from home, in front of the computer the whole day... less time to post and with all the events that happened, I also felt like taking a break. But here I am, back with a lot of pictures that I took all the while, I didn't stop walking around and shooting... flowers, mainly, field flowers and forest plants. But the weather has been bad here, too, as it is raining most of the time.

Here is a beautiful flowers that I love because of its humble beauty and the soft fragrant smell you can catch in the wind. The Soapwort. It grows in colonies in St.Alphonse, all along the small ravine and the flowers remain for many weeks.

It grows in roadsides and disturbed areas throughout North America except far north. This attractive, phlox-like perennial, introduced from Europe, spreads by underground stems and forms sizable colonies. The plant contains poisonous saponins (soap-like substances) that inspired the genus name (from the Latin sapo, meaning "soap") and the alternate common name Soapwort. Lather can be made from its crushed foliage and it is detergent and the saponine is found more in the rots and seeds. The common name Bouncing Bet is an old-fashioned nickname for a washerwoman. (From Field Guide to Wildflowers - Eastern Region by National Audubon Society).

I also read in the Plantes Sauvages des Villes et des Champs (Wild Plants from cities and fields by a Quebec publisher, Fleurbec) that you can use the roots or the whole plant, dried and pulverised, to use as soap, shampoo or, added with soda, as a detergent for clothes. It is recommended to use the dried plant as fresh, it can be irritating for some people.

Saponine also gives the plant an antiseptic property. It can be used as gargarism against throat sores, or used as a lotion against acnea, zona and itching problems. We can make cataplasm with the flowers as well. It has been used as a laxative but it is irritating for the digestive tube.

This simple plant is growing all around here, it smells good and I think I will try it as soap... there is so much growing that I am also thinking of transplanting some plants in the garden in my backyard.

It grows in a small ravine, as you can see, and I had to be careful not to fall into it when I took the picture, and the herbs are filled with slugs, brrrrr... Toupti went in the ravine, he caught himself with his leash around the plants... I had to go down a little, sit in the weed and pull Toupti out of there... he had a slug in his hair, yak!

I will keep on posting but less often than I used to because of time. I have many, many pictures of wild plants growing in the forest of St.Jean.de.Matha that I am also planning to post.

Hope you are well and I will be posting my comments during the day, in between work...

Bye bye!

Francine
Shot at ISO 100 before sunset
eqshannon, JoseMiguel, MMM, jaycee, maurydv, Pitoncle, Alex99, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-08-05 5:41]

Hello Francine,
Welcome back and great to see your picture in TN. This is a nice picture and showing natural environment. TFS Ganesh

ISO 100 wow...and no noise (usually at 400)..just like the ads say..and the sharpness and wide angles of the camera are good when used in this way...you had to have a fairly steady hand...although the camera is deceivingly light...Very nice Francine.
Bob

Hi Francine,
It seems a lot of us have been away for a while.
But is good to be back and be in contact again.
I like the generous view you present us of this flowers, with nice light and proper focus.
Very good job, thanks for share it and welcome back :-)
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 786 W: 0 N: 1581] (7256)
  • [2008-08-05 7:09]

Bonjour Francine
Joli paysage.J'aime bien le PDV.Bonne PDC et jolie lumiere.
Merci Michel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2008-08-05 10:45]

Hi Francine,

Beautiful picture and beautiful flowers. The clarity in this shot is just superb. The greens and lavenders are gorgeous. A wonderful composition - I look forward to many more - I don't see sights like this in the desert.

Jane

Ciao Francine,
bellissima presentazione di saponaria officinalis, eccellenti POV, DOF e composizione con i fiorellini dai colori delicati accarezzati da una bellissima luce.
TFS. Maurizio

Bonjour Francine,
Belle présentation champêtre, prise sous un excellent angle de prise de vue, dans une agréable lumière.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3160 W: 148 N: 4787] (15449)
  • [2008-08-06 10:12]

Hi Francine.
You have shared a very attractive shot. I like flower pattern a lot. You managed to compose shot perfectly. I also like wonderful evening warm sun and fine colours palette of the image, excellent DOF and nice details of the entire scene. My best wishes and compliments.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15128)
  • [2008-08-20 19:57]

Hello My Dear Friend,
First let me wish you a belated 50th birthday, my computer has been in the repair shop so I have been very in active on the web. I feel like a heel missing your milestone day.
Now to this wonderfully colored image with the great clarity what a lovely sight this must be, thank you for sharing.
Kisses and Hugs
Rick

Hello Francine,
Wonderful shot of these beautiful flowers in a fine composition with good DOF and POV. TFS.
Have a nice weekend my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Francine

A beautiful presentation of this soapwort.
The display is very showy.
Well done capturing it,I can almost smell the sweet fragrance.I shall return to this image in the deepest part of the winter to remind me of the summer.LOL.
Excellent focus and sharpness.
It looks like it could have come from the family Polemoniaceae,as it shares similarities,but I see it comes from the Caryophyllaceae family.
A very interesting and informative post.
TFS

Wolf

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