Potentilla erecta

Potentilla erecta (syn. Tormentilla erecta, Potentilla laeta, Potentilla tormentilla, known as the (common) tormentil, septfoil or erect cinquefoil ) is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae).

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30 cm tall and spreads 20 cm wide.

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Edible Uses

The roots are extremely rich in tannin; prolonged boiling converts this into a gum, after which the root can be eaten. It is considered an emergency food, used only when nothing else is available. A tea can also be made from the rhizomes.

Traditional Uses

The roots are dried and used for tea. The roots are boiled to remove the tannin as a gum and the roots are then eaten. It is also added to Russian vodka. The young shoots are used in salads.

Medicinal Uses

Containing more tannin than oak bark, all parts of tormentil are strongly astringent and widely regarded as one of the safest native astringents in herbal medicine. The whole plant, and especially the root, is antibiotic, strongly astringent, haemostatic and hypoglycaemic. It is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcerative colitis and sore throats. Externally, it makes an effective styptic for cuts, and a strong decoction is recommended as a wash for mouth ulcers, infected gums, piles and inflamed eyes. Extracts are used for chapping of the anus and cracked nipples. The plant is a reliable toothache remedy and has also been used to treat bed-wetting in children.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassland, heath and mountain tops. It grows in light acid soil. It is hardy to hardiness zone 5.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Central Asia, Estonia, Eurasia, Europe, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine,

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring or autumn in a cold frame. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings into individual pots and grow on in a greenhouse through their first winter, then plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. For division, spring is the best time. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

A red dye can be obtained from the roots. The plant, and particularly the root, is rich in tannin — the root contains up to 20% tannin. The plant is also used cosmetically as a compress to tone up flabby skin.

Notes

There are about 500 Potentilla species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Cervienkovi koren, Srčna moč, Tedre madar, Tedremaran, Tepperot, Trava od srdobolje

References (16)

• Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 206
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 201
• Girard, N. J., 2020, Sustainable Foraging of Wild Edible Plants in Norway. A Biocultural Approach. M. Sc. thesis Norwegian University. p 135
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 514 (As Potentilla tormentilla)
• http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants

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