Ballota nigra ’BLACK HOREHOUND'
[Ex. Tynemouth]
Lamiaceae: a straggly, bushy, hairy perennial to 50cm. it has a pungent and some say unpleasant small when bruised. Found growing on disturbed ground, riverbanks and roadside verges. The pinkish purple flowers, in whorls from June-September. Stalked, ovate or heart-shaped leaves. Locally common in England and Wales but scarce or absent elsewhere. Native most of Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandinavia to North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean.
Black horehound has a long history of herbal use, though is not widely employed in modern herbalism because of its unpleasant flavour, nonetheless, it does have a range of medicinal virtues, being especially effective in its action as an antiemetic. In the past it was often used for treating problems connected with the respiratory system, convulsions, low spirits and the menopause, but present-day authorities differ over whether it was effective in these applications. The whole plant is antiemetic, antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant and vermifuge. It is taken internally in the treatment of nervous dyspepsia, travelling sickness, morning sickness in pregnancy, arthritis, gout, menstrual disorders and bronchial complaints. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use, but it should not be stored for longer than a year. The fresh herb is sometimes used to make a syrup.
Sow seeds in spring or autumn in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer or following autumn.
Harvested September 2014.
Approx. 300+ seeds £1.50.
Ballota nigra
[Ex. Tynemouth]
Lamiaceae: a straggly, bushy, hairy perennial to 50cm. it has a pungent and some say unpleasant small when bruised. Found growing on disturbed ground, riverbanks and roadside verges. The pinkish purple flowers, in whorls from June-September. Stalked, ovate or heart-shaped leaves. Locally common in England and Wales but scarce or absent elsewhere. Native most of Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandinavia to North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean.
Black horehound has a long history of herbal use, though is not widely employed in modern herbalism because of its unpleasant flavour, nonetheless, it does have a range of medicinal virtues, being especially effective in its action as an antiemetic. In the past it was often used for treating problems connected with the respiratory system, convulsions, low spirits and the menopause, but present-day authorities differ over whether it was effective in these applications. The whole plant is antiemetic, antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant and vermifuge. It is taken internally in the treatment of nervous dyspepsia, travelling sickness, morning sickness in pregnancy, arthritis, gout, menstrual disorders and bronchial complaints. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use, but it should not be stored for longer than a year. The fresh herb is sometimes used to make a syrup.
Sow seeds in spring or autumn in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer or following autumn.
Harvested September 2014.
Approx. 300+ seeds £1.50.
Barbarea vulgaris ‘WINTER CRESS’
[Ex. Co. Durham]
[Ex. Co. Durham]
Brassicaceae: an upright, hairless perennial to 80cm, found mainly on damp ground. Small 4 petaled yellow flowers, in terminal heads from May-August, followed by long, narrow green pods. Widespread but commonest in the south of the country.
The young leaves can be eaten either raw or cooked like spinach, it has a hot cress-like flavour. The young leaves can be chopped up finely and added to salads, older leaves can be used as a potherb but they are rather strong and are best cooked in one or two changes of water. The leaves are available all year round.
The leaves are vulnerary and have been used as a poultice for treating wounds, a tea can also be made from the leaves is appetizer, antiscorbutic and diuretic.
Sow seeds in spring or autumn in situ, germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. Easy.
Approx. 300+ seeds £1.25
Barbarea vulgaris
Bellis perennis 'Daisy'
Currently Unavailable
Currently Unavailable
Betula pendula ’SILVER BIRCH’
[Ex. Co. Durham]
Betulaceae: medium-sized deciduous tree, typically reaching 15 to 25 m (49 to 82 ft) tall, the bark on the trunk and branches is golden-brown at first but later turns white as papery tissue develops on the surface which peels off in flakes. The male catkins develop at the tips of the branches in the autumn, while the female catkins that develop soon after the leaves unfurl in the spring. The foliage is a pale to medium green and turns yellow early in the autumn before the leaves fall.
The Inner bark can be cooked or dried and ground into a meal, which can be added as a thickener to soups etc., or can be mixed with flour for making bread, biscuits etc. The trees Sap is also used raw or cooked, and as a sweet flavour, it is harvested in early spring, before the leaves unfurl, by tapping the trunk, it makes a very pleasant drink. The sap can be fermented into a beer.
Medicinal uses include: Anti-inflammatory, cholagogue, diaphoretic, and the bark is diuretic and laxative, the oil obtained from the inner bark is astringent and is used in the treatment of various skin afflictions, especially eczema and psoriasis. The bark is usually obtained from trees that have been felled for timber and can be distilled at any time of the year. The inner bark is bitter and astringent, it is used in treating intermittent fevers.
Only just cover the seed and place the pot in a sunny position, spring sown seed should be surface sown in a sunny position in a cold frame, if the germination is poor, raising the temperature by covering the seed with glass can help.
Seeds Available: £1.50
Brassica oleracea ’WILD CABBAGE’
Currently Unavailable
Currently Unavailable
Brassica nigra 'Black Mustard'
Currently Unavailable
Bryonia cretica ssp. Dioica
'White Bryony'
Seeds available!
Bupleurum rotundifolium
'Thorow-wax'
No comments:
Post a Comment