Other Names: İdrisağacı, Prunus mahaleb, Rosaceae
Botanical Information: It is a short shrub from the Rosaceae family, also known as Idrisagacaci. It is a small tree that sometimes reaches 8 – 10 m and sheds its leaves in winter. Young shoots are hairy. The leaves are circular or broadly egg-shaped. Their length is 3 – 6 cm, their edges are toothed, and there are hairs along the main vein on their underside. Its fragrant flowers are white in color. The small, 5 – 6 mm sized fruit turns black when ripe.
Places of Cultivation: Its homeland is Europe and Western Asia. In Turkey, it is found on mountain slopes and calcareous lands such as Tokat, Niksar, Zile, Amasya, Çorum and Mardin.
Places of Use: Dried fruits are used as spice (Mahlep). It gives a unique pleasant smell, especially to pastries. The hard-shelled seeds inside the fruits are widely used as a spice and are also used as a tonic, expectorant, diuretic and aphrodisiac.
Benefits:
It is diuretic.
It has a tonic effect.
It is used as an aphrodisiac.
Asthma, used as expectorant.
In prostate enlargement,
It is useful in lowering sugar,
It has a sexual potency enhancing effect.
