Santolina virens Mill. - syn.Santolina viridis Willd.; Santolina rosmarinifolia L. ssp. rosmarinifolia - Asteraceae \\
green cotton lavender, holy flax, green santolina,  **Grünes Heiligenkraut**, Olivenkraut

Perennial herb, up to 50cm high, native to the Mediterranean; leaves pinnately divided into very small segments, deep green, glabrous, scented; flowers in button-like heads, yellow. \\
[[http://courses.missouristate.edu/ClydetteAlsup/AGP325/ID_Pages/Asteraceae_Santolina_virens.doc]]

The aroma of the leaves is reminiscent of the scent of fresh olives, therefore it replaces or complements olives in salads and Mediterranean dishes.

{{:agropyrene.jpg| agropyrene}} agropyrene

Capillene (agropyrene, [[http://www.guidechem.com/dictionary/en/520-74-1.html|1-phenylhexa-2,4-diyne]]) "... was found to be the main constituent (35.2%) of the essential oil of Santolina rosmarinifolia L. ssp. rosmarinifolia. The related ketone capillin (1-phenylhexa-2,4-diyn-1-one, 0.4%) was also found. The rest of the oil was made up of monoterpenes (53.3%) and sesquiterpenes (9.6%). The main monoterpenes were: β-phellandrene (14.9%), myrcene (13.1%), β-pinene (7.8%) and sabinene (5.5%), while the principal sesquiterpene was ar-curcumene (4.3%)." \\
[Essential oil of Santolina rosmarinifolia L. ssp. rosmarinifolia: first isolation of capillene, a diacetylene derivative., Palá‐Paúl, J., Pérez‐Alonso, M. J., Velasco‐Negueruela, A., Ramos‐Vázquez, P., Gómez‐Contreras, F., Sanz, J., Flavour and fragrance journal, Vol.14(2), 1999, 131-134]

{{http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/pix/santolina-virens-leaves_medium.jpg?800}} \\
picture source Dr.Roy Winkelman, [[http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/santolina-virens-leaves.html|San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco, California]]