The fumitories are annual flowering plants native to temperate Europe and Asia though some species are found in North and South America and Australia.

Several species are found in the Maltese islands but as they tend to be very similar to the untrained eye, they probably seem to be a single species.

There are various explanations for the origin of these plants’ name which refers to smoke. In ancient Greece it was said that if the eyes were rubbed with these plants they became so irritated that they started to water as if they had been exposed to smoke.

Another more recent explanation is that the flowers and the blue-grey leaves look like smoke close to the ground.

In Maltese, fumitories are generally known as daħnet l-­art, which is also linked to smoke as it means smoke of or on the ground. It could be that this name was given to this plant by botanists who coined it from its Italian or scientific name when the Italian culture was dominant among the well-educated Maltese botanists.

Fumitories are well known for their medicinal properties. The best known species is the common fumitory which is also known as earth smoke. This species is the main source of fumaric acid, a chemical used in medicine to produce compounds which are sometimes used to treat psoriasis.

Fumaric acid is also used in the food industry as an acidant in beverages and it used as a substitute for tartaric, citric and malic acids.

Fumitory has been highly valued since at least Roman times for its tonic and blood cleansing effect on the body.

Traditionally it was used to cure eye problems and to remove skin blemishes. Modern herbalists use it as a stimulant and for its cleansing action on the liver and gallbladder, as well as to treat chronic skin problems such as eczema. It is also a diuretic and a mild laxative. In excessive doses it is toxic and is said to have hypnotic and sedative effects.

Traditionally the leaves of the plant were macerated in wine and a full glass drunk as a tonic every four hours.

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