21/07/2006

Fond of riverbanks and marshy areas, the Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) takes over much of the countryside at this time of yearm growing up to 2 mtrs tall.

A popular name for the plant is 'codlins and cream' - codlin or codling being a variety of apple. The cream and pink petals probably gave rise to the name. In Ireland, its called 'Blooming Sally,' Sally being a corruption of the Latin Salix, the Willow, really a reference to the willow-like leaves. In America, it springs up on ground recently cleared by firing, being one of the plants called 'Fireweed'.

Its hairy stems and numerous flowers allow it to spread easily, although it spreads just as much underground using long root runners.

The latin name Epilobium hirsutum comes from the Greek words epi (upon) and lobos (a pod), because the flowers stand upon the top of long, thin, pod-like seed-vessels, having somewhat the appearance of rather thick flower-stems.

Being a herb, it is sometimes used in herbal medicine. The roots and leaves have tonic and astringent properties and are used as astringents. The root contains mucilage, tannin, starch, sugar, resin, and a crystalline calcium salt. The young shoots are boiled and eaten like asparagus. It has also been recommended for its antispasmodic properties in the treatment of whooping cough, hiccough and asthma.

FIND MORE INFORMATION BY SEARCHING SITES ON GOOGLE

	Web www.northamptonshire.co.uk