Practical
Plants

Gnaphalium uliginosum

Marsh Cudweed

an annual member of the Gnaphalium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.2 m
Spread
0.2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

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.

Marsh cudweed is little used in modern herbalism, though it is occasionally taken for its astringent, antiseptic and anticatarrhal properties[6]. The whole plant is anti-inflammatory, astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic[7][4][1][5]. It may also have aphrodisiac and anti-depressant effects[5]. It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of laryngitis, upper respiratory catarrh and tonsillitis, whilst in Russia it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure[5][6]. The plant is harvested when it is in flower and is dried for later use[5].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic

Material uses

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

Yellow and green dyes are obtained from the whole plant[2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.
Habitat
Damp places in sandy fields, heaths, waysides etc, on acid soils[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, 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 late spring in situ and only just cover the seed.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade in a moist to wet light acid soil[5].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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