Pimpernel
|
Botanical Name |
Anagallis monellia |
|
Other Names |
Poor man’s weather glass |
|
Native to |
Cornwall, England |
|
Description |
Perennial up to 15cm/½ ft with a 40cm/16in spread Flowers: blue |
|
Cultivation |
Full sun, well drained light soil |
|
Traditional Uses |
Liver problems, dog bites |
|
Other Notes |
The name angellis (given to it by Dioscorides) comes from the Greek Anagelao meaning to laugh Its petals open and closes with before and during rain It opens it petals at 7am and closes them at 2pm In Christian legend it is stained with the blood of Jesus |
Pimpernel Scarlet
|
Botanical Name |
Anagallis arvensis |
|
Family |
Primulaceae |
|
Other Names |
Poor man’s weatherglass |
|
Description |
Prostate annual. Leaves: opposite 1-2cm long, 1cm broad, ovate, sessile, black dots on undersurface. Flowers: small, scarlet, star like, finely toothed |
|
Native to |
Britain, Europe, Asia, Russia |
|
Parts Used |
Herb |
|
Actions |
Diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant |
|
Constituents |
Saponins: anagallisins A,B,C,D,E based on anagalligen; anagallosaponins I-V, anagallosides and their desgkuco derivatives and other glycosides of protoprimulagenin A. Curcurbitacins B, D, E, I, L and R and the related arvenins I, II, III, IV |