Is the multi-meat plant "Plectranthus" harmful to people?
Plectranthus is not harmful to humans. Keeping it at home can also act as a mosquito repellent, making it a non-toxic small ornamental potted plant. It emits the fragrance of apples and mint, which can alleviate fatigue and purify the air. However, those allergic to fragrances should avoid keeping Plectranthus.
Plectranthus is also known as "One-Swipe Fragrance", "Touch-and-Keep Fragrance" (Chu Liu Xiang), "Velvet Fragrant Tea Plant", etc. It is a sub-shrub perennial herb of the Labiatae family Plectranthus genus, and is known as "Plectranthus" for the comforting fragrance it emits upon touch.
Due to its sweet and strong fragrance resembling that of apples, it is also known as "Apple Fragrance". Let's take a look together at whether Plectranthus is harmful to humans.
Is Plectranthus toxic?
Plectranthus is not toxic. The green cellular substances in the fragrant plant are non-toxic and can be eaten.
The leaves of Plectranthus can be used to make fragrant tea and wine, and can also be cooked, used in soups, stir-fried, or served as a cold dish.
Furthermore, consuming the juice with honey raw can alleviate sore throat, brewing it as a tea can relieve stomach bloating and colds, and applying it externally after crushing can reduce inflammation and swelling and can also be used to nourish the skin.
Reason for Plectranthus' fragrance
The reason Plectranthus emits a fragrance is similar to the "shy" mechanism of the sensitive plant. When the leaves are stimulated by touch, the water in the cells comes into play, causing a change in the turgor pressure of the leaf cushions.
Under the action of turgor pressure, the leaves of Plectranthus do not contract but instead, the internal air pores expand, allowing a volatile substance with an apple-like fragrance to diffuse into the air.
In fact, Plectranthus emits a faint fragrance even under normal conditions, but this scent is mild and not easily noticed. When the leaves are touched, the fragrance becomes stronger (also on the hands), and people feel that it becomes fragrant upon touch.
Is it toxic to keep a multi-meat Plectranthus at home?
As the name suggests, Plectranthus is a fragrant plant that emits a special odor when the leaves are touched. Some plant enthusiasts have asked whether it can be kept in the bedroom.
It is completely fine to keep Plectranthus in the bedroom without any issues. Although it has a fragrance, it is only noticeable when the leaves are touched.
Generally, there is no scent unless it is touched, and its fragrance is not strong. Some people even crush the leaves and mix them with honey to drink.
Because of its unique scent, many businesses have attributed mosquito-repellent properties to Plectranthus, so many enthusiasts keep it in their bedrooms.
Although there is not much evidence of its mosquito-repellent effect, it can at least be said that Plectranthus can be kept in the bedroom without being harmful to humans.
The above sharing about whether keeping Plectranthus in the bedroom is toxic to humans and whether the multi-meat Plectranthus is harmful to humans is for everyone's learning and understanding!