Potentilla erecta
| Potentilla erecta | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Potentilla erecta (common name: tormentil)
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade[1]. Prefers a light acid soil, disliking heavy and strongly calcareous soils[2].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[3].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, W. Asia, Siberia.
Habitat: Grassland, heath, bog, fens, mountain tops and open woods[2], especially in light acid soils[4].
Edibility: The roots are extremely rich in tannin, long boiling converts this into a gum and it can then be eaten [5]. An emergency food, it is only eaten when all else fails[6].
A tea is made from the rhizomes[7].
Medicinal: Containing more tannin than oak bark, all parts of tormentil are strongly astringent, finding use wherever that action is required. This plant is considered to be one of the safest native astringents and it is widely used in herbal medicine in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, sore throats etc[8][9][10].
The whole plant, and especially the root, is antibiotic, strongly astringent, haemostatic and hypoglycaemic[8][11][12][13][4]. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcerative colitis etc[10]. Externally, the plant makes a good styptic for cuts etc., and a strongly made decoction has been recommended as a wash for mouth ulcers, infected gums, piles and inflamed eyes[8][10]. Extracts are used to treat chapping of the anus and cracked nipples[11]. The plant's effectiveness as a toothache remedy is undeniable and it has also been of benefit in treating bed-wetting by children[11].
Usage: A red dye is obtained from the roots[8][14][5].
The plant, and especially the root, is rich in tannin[8][11]. It s used cosmetically as a compress to tone up flabby skin[11]. The root contains up to 20% tannin[9].
Pollinators: Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: P. tormentilla.
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Freethy, Ron. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press, 1985.