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Lycopus europaeus

Common name: Gypsywort Family: Labiatae
Author: L. Botanical references: 17, 200
Synonyms:  
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Europe, including Britain, to the Mediterranean, north and central Asia.
Habitat: By rivers, streams and ditches, also in marshes and fens[9, 17].
Edibility Rating (1-5): 2Medicinal Rating (1-5):3

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
L. europaeus ssp. mollis[B,P] L. europaeus var. mollis[B,P]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Common Gipsyweed [H], Egyptian's Herb [H], European Bugleweed [L], Farasyon Maiy [E], Gipsy-wort [H], Gipsywort [H], Gypsywort [P,L,B], Menta De Lobo [E], Su Ferasyunu [E], Water Horehound [H], Wolfspoot [D],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
europaeus = European;
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Lamiales. Renamed to Lamiaceae -- Mint family
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
India(Punjab); Iraq; Spain; Turkey

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m. It is hardy to zone 5. 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 Bees and flies. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 3/5 for medicinal use.

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

Habitats and Possible Locations

Pond, Bog Garden.

Edible Uses

Root.

Root - raw or cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[179].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Astringent; Miscellany; Poultice; Sedative.

The fresh or dried flowering herb is astringent and sedative[4]. It inhibits iodine conversion in the thyroid gland and is used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and related disorders[9].
The whole plant is used as an astringent, hypoglycaemic, mild narcotic and mild sedative[4, 238]. It also slows and strengthens heart contractions[238]. The plant has been shown to be of value in the treatment of hyperthyroidism[9, 238], it is also used in the treatment of coughs, bleeding from the lungs and consumption, excessive menstruation etc[4, 238]. The leaves are applied as a poultice to cleanse foul wounds[240]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women or patients with hypothyroidism[238]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins and can be use fresh or dried, in an infusion or as a tincture[4, 238].

We have a more details factsheet on the history and medicinal use of this plant. Email webmaster@pfaf.org for details.

Other Uses

Dye.

A black dye is obtained from the plant[4, 100]. It is said to give a permanent colour and was also used by gypsies in order to darken the skin[4].

Cultivation details

Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Grows well in shallow water. Succeeds in sun or shade.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[238]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring or autumn[238]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Suppliers

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

Web References

References for lycopus europaeus (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

[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.

[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.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[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.

[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.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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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
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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.

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