Here we have Crosswort. Gorgeous plant. It has cross shaped leaves hence it’s name. Although Crosswort is rarely used in herbal medicine today, it was once recommended as a remedy for rupture, rheumatism and dropsy. It has also been recommended as a cure for headaches. Makes a lovely tea. Scientific name: Cruciata laevipes Happy foraging!
Tag Archives: nature
Wild Mustard
Wild Mustard! A great one to know. It has a very strong mustard flavour, it’s extremely common and easy to identify. Crush it’s leaves to reveal a strong mustard odour.The leaves will be growing in a rosette and soon it will produce yellow cross shaped flowers. Great to add to salads or to lightly panContinue reading “Wild Mustard”
Common Vetch
Hey Vetch, Welcome aboard! Common Vetch is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, which forms the third largest plant family in the world with over thirteen thousand species. There are lots of different vetch species, all the ones with purple flowers are good to eat and have a pea like flavour. The leaves haveContinue reading “Common Vetch”
Herb Robert
Here we have Herb Robert. A plant that you will see abundantly, particularly on the perimeters of woodlands or even your garden. Fairly easy to ID, the flowers may be confused with Red Campion to the novice forager, though the leaves are very different, making it easy to tell them apart. A very pretty plant,Continue reading “Herb Robert”
Forget Me Not
What’s your name? Forget me not! The flowers of forget me not can be added to decorate salads, or used to pimp up your ice cubes. However as the plant contains varying levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids it is advised to only use in small amounts. The whole plant is astringent and it has been usedContinue reading “Forget Me Not”
Red Clover
Red clover! 🤩Red clover has a long history of medicinal use and has been used to treat a large number of illnesses from treating a cough to helping fight against cancer. Red Clover leaf is a staple of herbal blood cleansing formulas. It’s used to help with overall cardiovascular health and is an excellent bloodContinue reading “Red Clover”
Germander Speedwell
Introducing… Germander Speedwell!A gorgeous little plant, brightening up the woodland walkways and grasslands. Speedwell is a diuretic, expectorant, stomachic, tonic. It was once highly regarded in England as a healthy, relaxing, herbal tea and tonic. Speedwell is also well known by herbalists to treat troubled skin. Next time you see this one enticing your eyeContinue reading “Germander Speedwell”
Wild Fennel
Wild Fennel! What a smell!Wild fennel is an abundant herb and has established itself throughout the world, originating in Europe.It has such a wonderful smell and taste and can be used to cook with in a wide variety of dishes. I personally love to drink the fresh herb in tea with some mint. When theContinue reading “Wild Fennel”
Wild Strawberry
Wild Strawberry! 🍓🍓🍓These guys start producing fruit in late June/ early July. They don’t tend to produce very much like their cultivated cousins. A lovely treat to stumble upon when out walking and to pick for a sugar boost. You will find these in woodlands and hedgerows. Scientific name: Fragaria vesca Happy foraging!!
Silverweed
Introducing Silverweed! All parts of silverweed are edible. The leaves can be added to a salad, stew or stir fried. The roots can be baked, boiled, roasted, dried and ground into a rough flour for bread or porridge or simply eaten raw. The plant has astringent, anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Medicinal uses for driedContinue reading “Silverweed”