Potentilla anserina
Silverweed
a perennial member of the Potentilla genus in the family Rosaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Potentilla
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - raw or cooked[12][15][4]. It can also be dried and ground into a powder then used in soups etc or mixed with cereals[10][2][3][11]. A nice taste, crisp and nutty with a somewhat starchy flavour[16][4]. The roots are rather thin, though perhaps their size cold be improved in cultivation[K]. Edible young shoots - raw[15]. A tea is made from the leaves.
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Product or use
- Tea
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.
Contemporary medical herbalists believe that silverweed's main medicinal value lies in its astringency. It is less astringent than the related P. erecta, but it has a gentler action within the gastro-intestinal tract[8]. The whole plant is antispasmodic, mildly astringent, diuretic, foot care, haemostatic, odontalgic and tonic[9][14][17][6]. A strong infusion is used to check the bleeding of piles and to treat diarrhoea, it is also used as a gargle for sore throats[9]. Externally, it is used as a powder to treat ulcers and haemorrhoids whilst the whole bruised plant, placed over a painful area, will act as a local analgesic[14][8]. The roots are the most astringent part of the plant[9], they are harvested in late summer or autumn and dried for later use[8]. The leaves are harvested in early summer and dried for later use[9].
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Foot care
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Odontalgic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A sprig placed in the shoe can help prevent blisters[12]. An infusion of the leaves makes an excellent skin cleansing lotion[12], it is also used cosmetically as a soothing lotion for reddened skin and for the delicate skins of babies[14]. All parts of the plant contain tannin, though the report does not give quantities[9].
- Product or use
- Cleanser
- Product or use
- Tannin
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Iran, the Himalayas, Manchuria, Japan.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early spring or autumn in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring. Division is also very easy at almost any time the plant is in growth. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A very easily grown plant, succeeding in almost any soil, thriving in moist clays, though rather dwarfed in dry dusty soils[9]. It grows best in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade[1]. Prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates a slightly acid soil[5]. Silverweed was formerly cultivated for its edible root[10][13]. It is still possibly cultivated in parts of Scotland (1992)[4]. This plant spreads vigorously by its running roots and can be very invasive[1][9]. It grows well in a meadow, or places where the grass is only cut occasionally[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[7].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Ahrendt. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 57 1961-00-00
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2