Glechoma hederacea

Glechoma hederacea is an aromatic, perennial, evergreen creeper of the mint family Lamiaceae. It is commonly known as ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, and run-away-robin. It is also sometimes known as creeping jenny, but that name more commonly refers to Lysimachia nummularia. It is used as a salad green in many countries. European settlers carried it around the world, and it has become a well-established introduced and naturalized plant in a wide variety of localities. It is also considered an aggressive invasive weed of woodlands and lawns in some parts of North America. In the absence of any biological control research conducted by the USDA, herbicides are relied upon (despite their drawbacks) particularly for woodland ecosystems. The plant's extensive root system makes it difficult to eradicate by hand-pulling.

Description

A herb. It has a creeping ivy-like growth habit. It creeps along the ground. It grows 15 cm high and spreads 2 m wide. The stems are square. They root at the nodes. The leaves are greyish-green. They have a crinkly edge and are hairy. They are heart shaped. The leaves occur in pairs. The flowers are purple blue. There are 5 petals which are fused together. The 2 lower lips are covered with white dots. It has a mint like smell when the leaves are crushed.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a bitter flavour with a slight aromatic tang that works well mixed into salads, and they can also be cooked like spinach, added to soups, or used as a flavouring. The leaves are available very early in the year. A herb tea is made from fresh or dried leaves, often blended with verbena leaves. Historically, the herb was added to beer in much the same way as hops — to clear it and improve both flavour and keeping quality — and was the most common beer flavouring before hops came into widespread use from the 16th century onwards.

Traditional Uses

It is used to flavour and clarify beer. The fresh and dried leaves are used to make a tea which is sweetened with honey. The leaves are bitter so are only used in small amounts to spice up a salad or soup. They are cooked.

Medicinal Uses

Ground ivy is a safe and effective herb used to treat problems involving the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, throat, and digestive system. It is well tolerated and can be given to children to clear lingering catarrh and to manage chronic conditions such as glue ear and sinusitis. Throat and chest complaints, particularly those involving excess catarrh, also respond well. The leaves and flowering stems are anodyne, antiphlogistic, appetizer, astringent, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, pectoral, gently stimulant, tonic, and vermifuge. They are best harvested in May while still fresh and can be dried for later use. The leaves are used to treat hypersensitivity in children and are helpful for kidney disorders and indigestion. Applied externally, the expressed juice is said to speed the healing of bruises and black eyes. Use with caution.

Known Hazards

Although it has been used by humans as a salad green and in herbal medicines for thousands of years, the species is also believed to be toxic to livestock, particularly horses. Wild pigs, however, are reported to feed on it. Some accounts report it is toxic to rodents, while bank voles in Great Britain have been observed to use it as a food source. Like other members of the Lamiaceae, G. hederacea contains bioactive volatile oils, including terpenoids and pulegone; these are responsible for the characteristic "minty" odor and taste of plants in the mint family. Their activity in humans varies depending on many factors, including concentration, quantity of intake, and whether administration is internal or external. Lamiacaeae plants with very high volatile oil concentrations, such as European pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), have traditional uses as disinfectants, flea-killers, and abortifacients, and are hepatotoxic to humans. Other members of the Lamiacaeae, such as Mentha spicata, spearmint, are widely and safely used in teas and flavorings for their volatile oils. The concentration of volatile oil in G. hederacea is less than 1/30th that in European pennyroyal. The effects of Glechoma on humans have been little studied.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows on heavy, damp soils. It grows in warmer temperate areas. It suits plant hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Europe, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a heavy soil and dappled shade. Prefers a moist well-drained soil, succeeding in sun or shade. A very invasive plant, spreading freely at the roots. A good bee plant. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.

Propagation

Seed can be sown in situ as soon as ripe or in spring. Divide clumps in spring or autumn — larger divisions can go straight into permanent positions, while smaller clumps are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in spring.

Other Uses

Makes a good ground cover plant for shady positions, though it is quite vigorous and can overwhelm smaller plants.

Notes

There are 10-12 Glechoma species. It is used in medicine. It has become a weed in the USA and Canada. Chemical composition: volatile oil = 1.8%. Rich in menthone and limonene.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Alehoof, Bršljanasta grenkuljica, Dobricica, Erva de sao joao, Field balm, Gill-over-the-ground, Hierba terrestre, Hiedra terrestre, Hondsdraf, Katonapetrezselyem, Korsknapp, Nepeta, Runaway robin, Vadpetrezselyem

References (32)

• 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 497
• Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 175
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 476
• Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 224

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