Family: Rosaceae
Other Names: Biscuits, bloodroot, common tormentil, English
sarsaparilla, red root, sept foil, sheppard’s knapperty, thormantle, tormentilla
Habitat: Moors, heaths, grassy places, peat land
Description: Creeping, perennial, hairy, erect stems
Low growing plant up to 10cm Leaves: 3 toothed leaflets with two basal leaves
like stipules giving a 5-fingered effect. trefoil root leaves, stem leaves with
5 leaflets, serrate Flowers: 4 sepals and petals yellow May-September
Native to: Britain, Europe, and N Africa
Parts used: Rhizome, herb
Actions: Anti-allergic, antimicrobial, astringent, molluscicdal,
vulnerary
Constituents: Tannins (up to 15%), glycosides, catchins,
ellaitannins, gallotannins: pedunculagin, agrimonine, laevigatives B and F,
epigallocatechin gallate
Procyanidins and flavonoids: kaempferol
Saponins: tormentoside, epipomolic acid
Traditional Uses: Roots boiled for diarrhoea
Respiratory: Laryngitis, mouth ulcers
Digestive: Diarrhoea
Other Uses: Red dye, tanning leather