Agrimony
Encyclopedia
Agrimonia, commonly known as Agrimony, is a genus of 12-15 species of perennial
herbaceous
flowering plant
s in the family Rosaceae
, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
, with one species also in Africa
. The species grow to between 0.5–2 m tall, with interrupted pinnate leaves
, and tiny yellow flower
s borne on a single (usually unbranched) spike
.
Agrimonia species are used as food plants by the larva
e of some Lepidoptera
species including Grizzled Skipper
(recorded on A. eupatoria) and Large Grizzled Skipper
.
once hailed it as an "all-heal," and through the ages it did seem to be a Panacea
. The ancient Greeks used Agrimony to treat eye ailments, and it was made into brews to cure diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. Anglo-Saxons made a solution from the leaves and seeds for healing wounds; this use continued through the Middle Ages
and afterward, in a preparation called eau d'arquebusade, or "musket-shot water". Later, agrimony was prescribed for athlete's foot.
In the United States and Canada, and late into the 19th century,the plant was prescribed for many of these illnesses and more: for skin diseases, asthma, coughs, and gynecological complaints, and as a gargling solution for sore throats.
Recent authors identify Agrimony as a topical astringent for wounds, ulcers and sore throats and an astringent, bitter tonic, indicated for gastrointestinal and urinary problems such as indigestion, diarrhea and colitis, urinary tract infections, enuresis and incontinence and kidney and bladder gravel.
Agrimony is said to be powerful when used to return a hext o it's sender
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the family Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
, with one species also in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The species grow to between 0.5–2 m tall, with interrupted pinnate leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, and tiny yellow flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s borne on a single (usually unbranched) spike
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
.
Agrimonia species are used as food plants by the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
species including Grizzled Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
The Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.-Appearance, behaviour and distribution:With its characteristic chequered black and white pattern this butterfly is quite distinctive although old, faded individuals can be mistaken for the Dingy Skipper or the Sideridis...
(recorded on A. eupatoria) and Large Grizzled Skipper
Large Grizzled Skipper
The Large Grizzled Skipper is a species of skipper . It is distributed throughout most of continental Europe but is absent from Denmark and practically all European islands including Great Britain, Ireland, Azores, Balearic Islands, Channel Islands, Canary Islands, Crete, Cyprus, Iceland, etc.This...
.
Species
- Agrimonia eupatoriaAgrimonia eupatoriaAgrimonia eupatoria is a species of agrimony that is often referred to as common agrimony, church steeples or sticklewort....
- Common Agrimony (Europe, Asia, Africa) - Agrimonia gryposepalaAgrimonia gryposepalaAgrimonia gryposepala is a small flowering plant of the rose family , which is native to North America and was used by various indigenous peoples to treat medical problems such as diarrhea and fever.-Name and description:Agrimonia gryposepala Agrimonia gryposepala (also known as Tall hairy...
- Tall Hairy Agrimony (North America) - Agrimonia incisa - Incised Agrimony (North America)
- Agrimonia coreana - Korean Agrimony (eastern Asia)
- Agrimonia microcarpa - Smallfruit Agrimony (North America)
- Agrimonia nipponica - Japanese Agrimony (eastern Asia)
- Agrimonia parvifloraAgrimonia parvifloraAgrimonia parviflora is a species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants. Small Flowered Agrimony,Harvestlice Agrimony, and Harvestlice are its most common names in the United States....
- Harvestlice Agrimony (North America) - Agrimonia pilosa - Hairy Agrimony (eastern Europe, Asia)
- Agrimonia procera - Fragrant Agrimony (Europe)
- Agrimonia pubescens - Soft Agrimony (North America)
- Agrimonia repens - Short Agrimony (southwest Asia)
- Agrimonia rostellata - Beaked Agrimony (North America)
- Agrimonia striataAgrimonia striataAgrimonia striata is a species of perennial forb belonging to the Rose family . It grows to about 40in. producing a dense cluster of 5-parted yellow flowers on a hairy stalk above pinnately-divided leaves...
- Roadside Agrimony (North America)
Medicinal value
Agrimony has a long history of medicinal use. The English poet Michael DraytonMichael Drayton
Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era.-Early life:He was born at Hartshill, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Almost nothing is known about his early life, beyond the fact that in 1580 he was in the service of Thomas Goodere of Collingham,...
once hailed it as an "all-heal," and through the ages it did seem to be a Panacea
Panacea
In Greek mythology, Panacea was a goddess of healing. She was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her five sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art: Panacea was the goddess of cures, Iaso was the goddess of recuperation, Hygieia was the goddess of disease prevention, Aceso was...
. The ancient Greeks used Agrimony to treat eye ailments, and it was made into brews to cure diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. Anglo-Saxons made a solution from the leaves and seeds for healing wounds; this use continued through the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and afterward, in a preparation called eau d'arquebusade, or "musket-shot water". Later, agrimony was prescribed for athlete's foot.
In the United States and Canada, and late into the 19th century,the plant was prescribed for many of these illnesses and more: for skin diseases, asthma, coughs, and gynecological complaints, and as a gargling solution for sore throats.
Recent authors identify Agrimony as a topical astringent for wounds, ulcers and sore throats and an astringent, bitter tonic, indicated for gastrointestinal and urinary problems such as indigestion, diarrhea and colitis, urinary tract infections, enuresis and incontinence and kidney and bladder gravel.
Folklore
Although the plant has no idiopathic properties, tradition holds that when placed under a person's head, Agrimony will induce a deep sleep that will last until removed.Agrimony is said to be powerful when used to return a hext o it's sender
See also
- Aremonia agrimonioides (Bastard-agrimony, of the related genus AremoniaAremoniaAremonia is a genus of plants belonging to the family of Rosaceae or roses.- Taxonomy :Synonyms* Agrimonoides P. Miller: Gard.Dict.Abr.ed.4. 1754 * Spallanzania Pollini: Hort.Prov.Veron.Pl.Nov.10...
) - Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp-agrimony)