Parnassia palustris
Grass Of Parnassus
a perennial evergreen member of the Parnassia genus in the family Parnassiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Parnassiaceae
- Genus
- Parnassia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Spread
- 0.08 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
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.
The whole plant is astringent, slightly diuretic, sedative, tonic and vulnerary[4][5]. A decoction is occasionally used as a mouthwash in the treatment of stomatitis[4]. The dried and powdered plant can be sprinkled onto wounds to aid the healing process[4]. The plant is harvested in the summer or autumn and can be dried for later use[4]. A distilled water made from the plant is an excellent astringent eye lotion[4].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Greece and temperate Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in late autumn in a cold frame in pots of soil that are standing in shallow water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in moist peaty soils or in spongy bogs[1]. Requires an alkaline soil[3]. Plants can be naturalized in marshy grass[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2