Menu list goes here

Herbal Database Search Results


     Back to: Pathways  Main Search Page  For Metaphysical uses visit The Witchs Haven

Alchemilla alpina

Common name: Alpine Lady's Mantle Family: Rosaceae
Author: L. Botanical references: 200
Synonyms:  
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Western and Northern Europe.
Habitat: Meadows, pastureland and woodland clearings, mainly on acid soils[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5): 3Medicinal Rating (1-5):3

Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Alpine Lady's Mantle [H,P], Alpine Lady's-mantle [L], Alquimila Alpina [E], Dag Aslanpencesi [E],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
alpina = alpine;
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Rosales. Rose family
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
Spain; Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.15m by 0.15m . It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Apomictic (reproduce by seeds formed without sexual fusion). The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 3/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Cultivated Beds, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves; Tea.

The following uses are for A. vulgaris. They quite probably also apply for this species[K].

Young leaves - raw or cooked[5, 7]. A dry, somewhat astringent flavour[K]. They can be mixed with the leaves of Polygonum bistorta and Polygonum persicaria then used in making a bitter herb pudding called 'Easter ledger' which is eaten during Lent[177, 183].
Root - cooked. An astringent taste[4].
The leaves are used commercially in the blending of tea[7].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Alterative; Antirheumatic; Astringent; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Febrifuge; Sedative; Styptic; Tonic; Vulnerary.

Lady's mantle has a long history of herbal use, mainly as an external treatment for cuts and wounds, and internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and a number of women's ailments, especially menstrual problems[9, 244]. This plant, the alpine ladies mantle, has been shown to be more effective in its actions[238, 268].
The herb is alterative, antirheumatic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, styptic, tonic and vulnerary[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165]. The leaves and flowering stems are best harvested as the plant comes into flower and can then be dried for later use[4]. The fresh root has similar and perhaps stronger properties to the leaves, but is less often used[4].
The plant is rich in tannin and so is an effective astringent and styptic, commonly used both internally and externally in the treatment of wounds[4]. It helps stop vaginal discharge and is also used as a treatment for excessive menstruation and to heal lesions after pregnancy[4, 244]. Prolonged use can ease the discomfort of the menopause and excessive menstruation[268]. The freshly pressed juice is used to help heal skin troubles such as acne and a weak decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of conjunctivitis[244].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Easily grown in ordinary soil in sun or part shade[1, 233]. Prefers a well-drained acid soil[200, 238]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in dry shade[188].
Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 16°c[133]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring or autumn. The divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we find it best to pot them up and keep them in a sheltered position until they are growing away well.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

References for alchemilla alpina (a possible synonym).

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[5] Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[133] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[165] Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small herbal.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[244] Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.

[268] Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

Readers Comments

Back to: Pathways Home page, Main Search Page  Help  Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
  Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Alchemilla+alpina
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Alchemilla+alpina

Creative Commons License Atribution Non commercial Share alike This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
(You can copy, distribute, display this works but: Attribution is required, its for Non-Commercial purposes, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft) i.e. has an identical license.)
We also ask that you let us know (michael@thewitchshaven.com) if you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.

Home  ::  View Cart  ::  Shipping & Returns  ::  Contact Us  ::  Log In  ::  Privacy Policy  ::  Home  ::  Philosophy

We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.

(c) 2007 Pathways & The Witchs Haven     Website hosting by: