Geum urbanum
| Geum urbanum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Geum urbanum (common name: wood avens)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer'
Division in spring or autumn. This should be done every 3 - 4 years in order to maintain the vigour of the plant[1]. Very easy, 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.
Cultivation: Easily grown in any moderately good garden soil that is well-drained[2]. Prefers shade[3][4] and a soil rich in organic matter[1].
This species was widely cultivated as a pot-herb in the 16th century[5]. The bruised or dried root is pleasantly aromatic with a clove-like fragrance[6].
Plants self-sow freely when well-sited[7].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa, Siberia, Himalayas and W. Asia.
Habitat: Woods, scrub, hedge banks, walls etc, usually on good damp soils[8][9][10].
Edibility: Young leaves - cooked.
Root - cooked. Used as a spice in soups, stews etc, and also as a flavouring in ale[11][5][12][9][13]. It is a substitute for cloves with a hint of cinnamon in the flavour[3][14][13]. It is best used in spring[3]. The root is also boiled to make a beverage[15]. The root is up to 5cm long[11].
Medicinal: Wood avens is an astringent herb, used principally to treat problems affecting the mouth, throat and gastro-intestinal tract. It tightens up soft gums, heals mouth ulcers, makes a good gargle for infections of the pharynx and larynx, and reduces irritation of the stomach and gut[16].
All parts of the plant, but especially the root, are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, stomachic, styptic and tonic[11][8][4][17][7]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, intestinal disorders, stomach upsets, irritable bowel syndrome and liver disorders, it is also applied externally as a wash to haemorrhoids, vaginal discharges etc[7][16] and to treat various skin afflictions - it is said to remove spots, freckles and eruptions from the face[11][8].
The root is best harvested in the spring, since at this time it is most fragrant[11]. Much of the fragrance can be lost on drying, so the root should be dried with great care then stored in a cool dry place in an airtight container, being sliced and powdered only when required for use[11].
Usage: The freshly dug root has a clove-like fragrance[11], when dried it is used in the linen cupboard to repel moths[11][18].
The root contains about 9% tannin[11].
Pollinators: Bees, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers, 1977.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ de Bray, Lys. The Wild Garden.