Practical
Plants

Scrophularia umbrosa

Water Betony

a perennial member of the Scrophularia genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
1.5 m
Fertility
Bees, Wasps
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Wasps

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

The plant is probably poisonous to cows[10].

Edible uses

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

Root - cooked[5][2]. There must be some doubts about the edibility of this root[K].

Plant part
Root

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 leaves are detergent and vulnerary[9]. They are harvested as the plant comes into flower and can be used fresh or dried for later use[9]. The plant has a good reputation as a wound herb, either applied externally as a poultice or taken as a decoction[9]. Water betony is said to have similar medicinal properties to the knotted figwort, S. nodosa[8]. These properties are as follows:- Knotted figwort is a plant that supports detoxification of the body and it may be used as a treatment for various kinds of skin disorders[8]. The whole plant is alterative, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, mildly purgative and stimulant[9][11][6][3]. It is harvested as the plant comes into flower in the summer and can be dried for later use[9]. A decoction is applied externally to sprains, swellings, burns, inflammations etc, and is said to be useful in treating chronic skin diseases, scrofulous sores and gangrene[9][8]. The leaves can also be applied fresh or be made into an ointment[9]. Internally, the plant is used in the treatment of chronic skin diseases (such as eczema, psoriasis and pruritis), mastitis, swollen lymph nodes and poor circulation[7]. It should not be prescribed for patients with heart conditions[7]. The root is anthelmintic[11].

Product or use
Detergent
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, south and east from S. Sweden to France, Palestine and Asia to Tibet.
Habitat
Damp shady ground, usually near water[9][4]. An occasional garden weed[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in the autumn or the spring. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most moist soils. A good bee plant[9].

References

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

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

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  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  10. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  11. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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