MOLUCELLA or BELLS OF IRELAND

Moluccella laevis, pronounced MOLL-you-sell-a, or Bells of Ireland, as it is commonly known is a tall, pale green spiky (60-100 cm) flower with its bell shaped calyxes enclosing the tiny real white fragrant flowers inside them. They are very prickly to touch even though they look fairly soft, so beware.

Thought to have come from the Moluccas (Spice Islands) in Indonesia but is actually from Syria and Eastern Mediterranean, they are available year round.

From the mint family (Labiatae), it was considered an aromatic herb, first cultivated in Belgium in 1570. It is used also in perfume making and is phototropic (bends towards the light).

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