Łódź, Botanical Garden

The wasp is Sphecodes albilabris - crude predator. It is native to much of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. Edible plant - spice; leaves raw or cooked, a strong distinctive peppermint-like fragrance; herbal tea from dried leaves. Herbal plant - the leaves are anodyne, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emetic, refrigerant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator; a tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments; it is also used as a mouth-wash and a gargle for treating sore throats, ulcers, bad breath etc. Usable plant - use of essential oils in cosmetics.