Practical
Plants

Hippuris vulgaris

Common Marestail

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[6][7][8][4]. Used to make soups[4]. They are best harvested from autumn to spring, even the brown overwintered stems in spring can be used[3].

Plant part
Leaves

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.

The whole plant is an effective vulnerary, the juice being taken internally or applied externally[5][3].

Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa, western and northern Asia.
Habitat
Pond margins, ditches etc, preferring base-rich water[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed. We have no details on this species but suggest sowing it as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The plant spreads vegetatively so vigorously, however, that you probably won't have to worry about growing it from seed. Division in spring. Division is very easy and can be carried out at any time in the growing season. The divisions can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

Requires a wet soil or shallow water, preferring one that is base-rich[2]. Dislikes shade. Plants have a spreading root system and can be very invasive[1].

References

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  7. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  8. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

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