Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

looks like a nettle but isn’t!

*Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
in Plants
the leaf looks like a nettle but it’s not so what is it? I’m on a roll tonight asking what plants are ! I suppose this is a great month to notice everything coming out in flower!
«1

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Has it got a bad smell when the leaves are crushed? If yes, it's probably woundwort
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Stachys sylvatica, known as hedge woundwort. Spreads by runners just below the surface.
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Oh I don’t know re the smell? So is it a weed?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Not if you like it and it it's not swamping other treasures.  Lovely colour.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    I wonder where the name wound wort came from? Odd name maybe it was used to heal wounds? And what is a wort?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Wort is an Old English word given to plants used for food or medicine ... lungwort was believed to heal diseased lungs, woundwort for healing wounds , stitchwort to cure a ‘stitch’ in the side. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Oh very interesting thank you! Wonder if they’re still used for these ailments?
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    The word wort comes from the old English word wyrt simply meaning root,

    Marsh woundwort contains an essential oil that has antispasmodic and antiseptic properties and it has been used to treat light cramps, arthritis and joint pain it has also been used as an herbal remedy for diarrhea and dysentery due to the tannin's found in the plant.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Fantastic thanks for all that information! Very interesting indeed!
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    'wortel' in Dutch. I find it very interesting looking into language and how it changes.

    Sorry, a bit off topic. I couldn't find it in my Culpepers herbal book though. Probably under some other name. 
Sign In or Register to comment.