Arboretum to burst into flower in Hungary

It is March, and spring is coming. What else could prove it better than the forerunners of spring? A beautiful arboretum near Alcsútdoboz in Fejér County was “flooded” by nice snowdrops; the whole territory seems as if it had been covered with white, soft and fluffy carpet, Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu says.

The largest and most beautiful snowdrop field has blossomed since the beginning of March, Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu informs. Although, due to the long winter, they are out much later than in the previous years, visitors can now admire the beautiful snowdrop field before they fade when summer sets in, and they give place for summer flowers.

The first snowdrops were planted in the late 1800s by the gardeners of the contemporary palatine land. Later, more and more species enriched the garden having a territory of almost five acres today. Currently, seven species, altogether twenty-four types of snowdrops can be seen in the arboretum, including common snowdrop, Crimean snowdrop, Levantean snowdrop and Giant snowdrop.

Did you know that common snowdrop contains an alkaloid called galanthamine, which has been approved for use in the management of Alzheimer’s disease? According to The Wild Pharma.wordpress.com, Galanthamine is also used in the treatment of traumatic injuries. The flowers also work as an emmenagogue: it stimulates or increases menstrual flow and so can induce an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. Snowdrop lectin is being studied with regard to its potential use against HIV.

WARNING: The flower itself is poisonous. Despite its medicinal use, prevent children from consuming it.

Photos: Szilvia Fazekas, MTI

ce: bm

Source: Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu, thewildpharma.wordpress.com