Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Young leaves and shoots - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. They are best used before the plant comes into flower[3]. Eaten in salads, used as a garnish or added to soups, cooling drinks and claret cups[6]. Young seedlings are boiled and eaten[6]. A bit fiddly to harvest and the leaves sometimes become bitter in hot dry summers, but they are usually fairly mild tasting in the winter and some people detect a cucumber flavour to them[K]. In the acid soil of our Cornish trial grounds, the leaves have a distinctly bitter flavour, though when the same plants were grown on a chalky soil they had a much milder flavour[K]. The leaves contain about 5.65% protein, 1.2% fat, 11% carbohydrate, 1.7% ash, 74.5% water[7].
A herb tea is made from the dried leaves[5][6].
Leaves
Unknown part
Material uses
Plants have extensive root systems and are used for erosion control, they are also used to reclaim landfills and mined-out terrain[8].
There are no material uses listed for Sanguisorba minor.Medicinal uses(Warning!)
Both the root and the leaves are astringent, diaphoretic and styptic, though the root is most active[9]. The plant is an effective wound herb, quickly staunching any bleeding[10]. An infusion is used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism[10]. The leaves can be used fresh, or are harvested in July and dried (the plant should be prevented from flowering)[9]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried[9].
An infusion of the leaves is used as a soothing treatment for sunburn or skin troubles such as eczema[11].
Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Soil builder
Earth stabiliser
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - sow March/April or September/October in a cold frame. Germinates in 3 weeks. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Plant them out in the spring or early summer.
The seed can also be sown in situ in spring or autumn if you have sufficient seed.
Division in spring.Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sanguisorba minor. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Prefers a light dry calcareous soil[12][13][14] but succeeds in most good soils[12][13]. Plants also succeed in poor soils[9]. One report says that it grows well in marshy soil[15] but this is possibly a mistake[K]. Dislikes shade[4].
Occasionally cultivated in the herb garden, this is an evergreen herbaceous plant and it supplies fresh edible leaves all the year round, even in quite severe winters[K]. When grown as a salad, the plant should be prevented from flowering[9]. Grows well in the spring meadow[15]. Makes a good edging plant in the border[14].
Plants often self-sow, sometimes to the point of nuisance[K].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Sanguisorba minor. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Sanguisorba minor.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sanguisorba minor
Genus
Sanguisorba
Family
Rosaceae
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
- Strong wind
- Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
Fertility
Pollinators
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
References
- ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
- ? 2.02.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
- ? 3.03.13.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.2 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)
- ? 5.05.15.2 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.26.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
- ? 7.07.1 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
- ? 8.08.1 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
- ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.5 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? 10.010.110.2 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
- ? 11.011.1 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
- ? 12.012.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? 13.013.1 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
- ? 14.014.114.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 15.015.1 Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
- ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
"image:Illustration Sanguisorba minor0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.
Facts about "Sanguisorba minor"RDF feed
