Habitat
Type: grassy places, waste ground
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 50 cm
Other: coarse

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Texture: parallel ribs
Arrangement: basal rosette
Edge: smooth
.
Flower
Diameter: tiny
Arrangement: oval, dense cluster on tall leafless stalk
When: May to September
Colour:

March to October
all year
June to October

Flavour
Rating and Description:
bitter, coarse

How to Consume
raw, juiced, leaf curd
cooked
flour

Special preparation
remove tough ribs
As the seed is small and could easily pass through the digestive system, it is best to grind them to allow absorption of nutrients.

Nutrition
Vitamin C
Vitamin B1, high in fibre

Used as ...
food

Action:
antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, demulcent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, opthalmic, refrigerant, vermifuge
gut scouring agent (like psyllium), vermifuge

May treat:
external: stops bleeding, wound disinfectant, aids healing (including septic wounds); skin complaints (ulcers, cuts, insect bites and stings, nettle stings, bruising), conjunctivitis; internal: complaints of respiratory, urinary and gastric tract

dye: gold, brown

Collection
Best before flowering.
for medicinal use collect late summer

Drying
Dry quickly in sun or drying cabinet/oven at 40-50°C; avoid browning. They will also keep a few days in shallow water like cut flowers.

Note
Some constituent chemicals are oil soluble, some water soluble. For full benefit consume with fat containing food.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• lanceolate: shaped like a lance head; long, tapered to end

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• antihistamine: inhibits the effects of histamine; reduces itching and swelling
• anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (see also demulcent, emollient)
• antiseptic: prevents putrefaction (applied to wounds)
• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• demulcent: rich in mucilage, soothes or protects irritated or inflamed tissue (especially mucousa)
• deobstruent: clears obstructions, opens natural passages of body
• depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• haemostatic: controls bleeding (see astringent)
• laxative: evacuates the bowels or softens stools
• ophthalmic: treats eye complaints
• refrigerant: produces a feeling of coolness
• vermifuge: expels worms from the body (see also anthelmintic)