Alchemilla alpina

Alchemilla alpina, commonly known as alpine lady's-mantle, is an arctic-montane herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Southern Greenland. Alpine lady's-mantle has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy, and is used in horticulture as a ground cover and in rock gardens.

Description

A small perennial herb. It has a creeping woody rootstock and forms mats. It grows 0.15 m high and spreads 0.15 m wide. The leaves are greyish green on top and silvery underneath. They have long stalks. The flowers are greenish-yellow and small.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, though they have a dry, somewhat astringent flavour. They can be combined with the leaves of Polygonum bistorta and Polygonum persicaria to make a bitter herb pudding known as 'Easter ledger', traditionally eaten during Lent. The root can be cooked, though it too has an astringent taste. The leaves are used commercially in blending tea.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The root is eaten cooked. The leaves are used to blend tea.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Lady's mantle has a long history of herbal use, primarily as an external treatment for cuts and wounds and internally for diarrhoea and various women's ailments, particularly menstrual problems. The alpine form has been shown to be more effective than the common species. The herb is alterative, antirheumatic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, styptic, tonic and vulnerary. Leaves and flowering stems are best harvested as the plant comes into flower and dried for later use. The fresh root has similar, and possibly stronger, properties than the leaves but is less commonly used. High tannin content makes it an effective astringent and styptic for internal and external wound treatment. It helps stop vaginal discharge, treats excessive menstruation and aids healing after pregnancy. Prolonged use can ease menopausal discomfort. Freshly pressed juice is applied to acne and skin complaints, and a weak decoction has been used to treat conjunctivitis.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in northern and western Europe on acid soils. It is damaged by drought and frost. It grows on a range of soils but does best on well drained acid soils. It can grow in sun or part shade. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Where It Grows

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Britain*, Europe, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed sown in the spring. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 16°C. Plants can also be grown by division of the clump.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a cold frame; it typically germinates in 3–4 weeks at 16°C. When large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and overwinter them in a cold frame before planting out in late spring or early summer. The plant can also be divided in spring or autumn, with divisions planted directly into permanent positions, though potting them up and keeping them sheltered until actively growing tends to give better results.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 250-300 Alchemilla species.

Also Known As

Frauenmantel, Porta-rozo

References (8)

• Abbet, C., et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical survey on wild alpine food plants in Lower and Central Valais (Switzerland). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (2014) 624–634
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 62
• Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 140
• Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 110
• Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

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