Practical
Plants

Goodyera repens

Creeping Lady's Tresses

a perennial member of the Goodyera genus in the family Orchidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Humble bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Humble bees

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.

A cold infusion of the leaves has been used to improve the appetite and also in the treatment of colds and kidney problems[5]. A poultice of the wilted leaves has been used to 'draw out burns'[5]. The infusion can be held in the mouth as a treatment for toothache[5]. The root and the leaves have been used in the treatment of bladder problems[5]. The roots and the leaves have been used in the treatment of stomach problems and female disorders[5]. A poultice of the chewed leaves, and the swallowed juice, has been used in the treatment of snake bites[5]. The plant ooze has been used as drops to treat sore eyes[5].

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, Scandanavia south and east to the Pyrenees, Siberia, Japan and Himalayas.
Habitat
Locally in pine woods, rarely under birch or on moist fixed dunes in northern Britain[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[3]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move.

Cultivation

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

Requires a somewhat shady site and a well-drained compost of peat, leafmold and sand[1]. Does well in the woodland garden[6][4]. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[4].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. Cribb. P. & Bailes. C. Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse. Christopher Helm. London. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0 7470 0416 1

    ↩1↩2

  5. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  6. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page