Lady's Mantle

Botanical Name: Alchemilla vulgaris

Family: Rosaceae

Other Names: A woman's best friend, bear’s foot, breakstone, dewcup, leontopodium, lion's foot, nine hooks, stellatia

Habitat: Grassland, open woods, meadows

Description: Perennial herb. Up to 50cm/20in densely hairy stems Leaves-blue/green kidney shaped, finely toothed. Clusters of flowers greenish-yellow petal-less yellow stamens May –September

Native to: Britain, Europe

Parts used: Leaves, flowering shoots

Cultivation: Rich, moist alkaline soil, full sun or partial shade.

Harvesting: June-august

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, appetizer, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, sedative, styptic, tonic, vulnerary

Constituents: Tannin, bitter principle, traces of essential oil, salicylic acid

 Flavonoids –glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol

Tannins –ellaitannins including the dimmer agrimoniin and laevigatiin

Culinary Uses: Young leaves in salads

Skin: Acne, sores, ulcers

Digestive: Diarrhoea

Genito urinary: Menstrual problems

Other Notes: Alchemilla means “little magic one” as it was thought to be magical the way it leaves holds dew

It is associated with the Virgin Mary, hence its name Lady’s mantle as opposed to Ladies Mantle