Practical
Plants

Geum urbanum

Wood Avens

a perennial member of the Geum genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Geum
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked. Root - cooked. Used as a spice in soups, stews etc, and also as a flavouring in ale[13][14][17][3][7]. It is a substitute for cloves with a hint of cinnamon in the flavour[2][16][7]. It is best used in spring[2]. The root is also boiled to make a beverage[4]. The root is up to 5cm long[13].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood avens is an astringent herb, used principally to treat problems affecting the mouth, throat and gastro-intestinal tract. It tightens up soft gums, heals mouth ulcers, makes a good gargle for infections of the pharynx and larynx, and reduces irritation of the stomach and gut[12]. All parts of the plant, but especially the root, are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, stomachic, styptic and tonic[13][18][9][5][10]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, intestinal disorders, stomach upsets, irritable bowel syndrome and liver disorders, it is also applied externally as a wash to haemorrhoids, vaginal discharges etc[10][12] and to treat various skin afflictions - it is said to remove spots, freckles and eruptions from the face[13][18]. The root is best harvested in the spring, since at this time it is most fragrant[13]. Much of the fragrance can be lost on drying, so the root should be dried with great care then stored in a cool dry place in an airtight container, being sliced and powdered only when required for use[13].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The freshly dug root has a clove-like fragrance[13], when dried it is used in the linen cupboard to repel moths[13][15]. The root contains about 9% tannin[13].

Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Tannin

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa, Siberia, Himalayas and W. Asia.
Habitat
Woods, scrub, hedge banks, walls etc, usually on good damp soils[18][3][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer' Division in spring or autumn. This should be done every 3 - 4 years in order to maintain the vigour of the plant[8]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in any moderately good garden soil that is well-drained[1]. Prefers shade[2][9] and a soil rich in organic matter[8]. This species was widely cultivated as a pot-herb in the 16th century[14]. The bruised or dried root is pleasantly aromatic with a clove-like fragrance[11]. Plants self-sow freely when well-sited[10]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  12. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  14. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  15. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩

  16. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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  17. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

  18. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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