Ground Ivy

Botanical Name: Glechoma hederacea

  Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) – Mint

  Other Names: Alehoof, cat ivy, cat's foot, creeping Charlie, creeping jenny, crow victuals, field balm, gill, gill ale, gill creep by the ground, gill go by the ground, gill-go-by-the-hedge, gill-over-the-ground, gillale, ground joy, hayhofe, hay maids, hedgemaids, hove, jack in the hedge, lizzy-run-up-the-hedge, Nepeta hederacea, robin run in the hedge, run-away-robin, tun hoof, tunhofe, turn hoof, wild snakeroot

  Habitat: Hedges, woods, meadows, waste grounds

  Description: Perennial herb, evergreen creeping 10-30cm/4-12in erect, square, unbranched, purplish hairy stems Leaves: 0.3—7cm opposite, kidney shaped, hairy, serrated, rounded, blunt tipped Flowers: paired or in 3s blue, purple, pink or white, two lipped April – September. Fruit: 4 smooth, 2mm nutlets

  Native to: Britain, Europe

  Parts used: Aerial parts

  Harvesting: March-May

  Actions: Anti-catarrhal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, tonic, vulnerary

  Constituents: Bitter, tannin, volatile oil, resin, saponin

Essential oil –sesquiterpenes including glechomafuran, linalool, limonene, pulegone, menthone, terpineol

Flavonoids –isoquercitin, hyperoside, apigenin, luteolin glycosides

Triterpenes –alpha ursolic acid, beta ursolic acid, oleanolic aicd

Hydroxy octadecadienoic acid derivatives.

Marrubiin diterpene

Polyphenolic acids –rosmarinic

  Combines with: Boneset, elderflower, elecampane, golden rod, horehound white, and hyssop

  Respiratory: Sore throats, catarrh, and bronchitis

  Other Notes: Despite its name it’s not a member of the ivy family although its leaves do resemble ivy though they are smaller

  It was said to guard against sorcery and milkmaids wore it for protection

  'Glechoma' was derived from 'glechon', which is Greek for mint or thyme.

  'Hederaceae' is Latin meaning 'ivy-like'

  It was used to flavour beer before hops were used