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looks like a nettle but isn’t!

*Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 291
in Plants
the leaf looks like a nettle but it’s not so what is it? I’m on a roll tonight asking what plants are ! I suppose this is a great month to notice everything coming out in flower!
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  • B3B3 Posts: 27,011
    Has it got a bad smell when the leaves are crushed? If yes, it's probably woundwort
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,439
    Stachys sylvatica, known as hedge woundwort. Spreads by runners just below the surface.
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 291
    Oh I don’t know re the smell? So is it a weed?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,846
    Not if you like it and it it's not swamping other treasures.  Lovely colour.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 291
    I wonder where the name wound wort came from? Odd name maybe it was used to heal wounds? And what is a wort?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,965
    Wort is an Old English word given to plants used for food or medicine ... lungwort was believed to heal diseased lungs, woundwort for healing wounds , stitchwort to cure a ‘stitch’ in the side. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 291
    Oh very interesting thank you! Wonder if they’re still used for these ailments?
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    The word wort comes from the old English word wyrt simply meaning root,

    Marsh woundwort contains an essential oil that has antispasmodic and antiseptic properties and it has been used to treat light cramps, arthritis and joint pain it has also been used as an herbal remedy for diarrhea and dysentery due to the tannin's found in the plant.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 291
    Fantastic thanks for all that information! Very interesting indeed!
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    'wortel' in Dutch. I find it very interesting looking into language and how it changes.

    Sorry, a bit off topic. I couldn't find it in my Culpepers herbal book though. Probably under some other name. 
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