Leijpark013

@leijpark013 · 07 Oct 2021

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Leijpark013 Pitrus 7 October 2021

#leijpark013   #pitrus
Published by Thierry P. Dinjens · October 5 at 6:01pm ·
The Leijpark has plants that look a lot like grass when they are not. We call these plants Russians and a good example of these are found along the waterfront: the Pitrus. And no matter how unremarkable the Pitrus may seem, this plant has been very important to us once. But let's start by the name. 'Pit' stems from the use to use the stem of this plant as a pit for oil lights. 'Rus' comes from the Latin word 'retis' meaning rope.
Branches and flowers were tied up with Russians, but there was a very different application that we see far less now. Farm barns used to have a roof of tiles. In the cold season, such a shed was at risk that there was a risk of spilling rain or drifting snow through a road in and under the roof tiles, while indoors tried to keep the hay or grain dry. The farmers found the following: a bundle of straw was twisted and fastened and laid between the roof tiles to seal it against the elements. That helped, but it had a downside: mice like this type of straw beams to make nests and over time the roof shows holes again. However, if the bunches of Pitrus were made, this would not be of interest to the mice, and the roof remained intact and the shed dry. Much later, especially in the cities, they switched to the use of mortar and lime to finish the roof tiles, but the farmers held to Pitrus for a very long time for the simple reason that they were able to grow this crop; much cheaper than buying mortar and lime. In addition, Pitrus, once half decays, is excellent fertilization for the rye maker. That way Pitrus helped the grain again.
If we go back in time, we'll see another application of the Pitrus. We should remember that rugs were only put into use (at the high nobility) in the 13th century. Before that, the floors were bare. But the Medieval man hardly knew the word hygiene; after eating everything, breadcrumbs, chipped bones and other food remains, just popped up on the bare floor, under the motto: the dogs do clean up that. To prevent it from becoming one big lube now, the people scattered Pitrus on the floor. Once a week (more often later) it was customary to wipe the floor and sprinkle with new Pitrus. So the floor scented and it's easier to wipe; the Pitrus cracked much less to the floor. Pitrus has a prominent place in the history of our hygiene.
Even in the Bible we find Pitrus. The crown of thorns around the head of Jesus was held together with strands of Pitrus. Of course to call a debatable 'honour', but not if one believes that the Suffering was necessary for our liberation from original sin, which reconciled man and God. In that case, it has been a formidable honor for the Pitrus.
Pitrus points to the presence of water, more precisely moist grassland in the Leijpark. Because the plant does so well in a humid environment, it is very popular as pond planting to this day.
Pitrus has ever served man. In times of hunger, even her starchy roots were cooked and eaten. See you? The Pitrus doesn't have to have her unobtrusive little brown flowers, to give her a more than decent listen. She tells her story on the waterfront in the Leijpark in silence.