Do you want to know a plant that is only found in cold or high altitude areas and that, in addition to having ornamental beauty, is also known for its medicinal properties?
That is the Alchemillawhich you will also find under the name of the lion’s foot and in English it is usually called Lady’s Mantle. A plant that we can find in different mountain environments and of which we will tell you all its characteristics and in which places it is found in this article.
What is alchemilla?
We can also know this plant as alchemilla soft and it’s a kind of evergreen shrubwhich comes from the Rosaceae family. Its origin is found in the high areas of Europe, being very present in the Balkan area, where it can be found on the edge of humid forests growing wildly.
It is a plant that tends to root from its stemsTherefore, it can also become a very invasive specimen in certain areas, especially in those that are not usually its place of origin and where it seemed convenient to cultivate them.
This has an ornamental beauty that makes it widely used in gardens, especially, because its simple dispersion makes it serve as upholsterynever exceeding 15 or 20 centimeters high approximately.
Features Alchemilla
Touch, the leaves are really soft and have a color that can go from grayish to greenpresenting well marked nerves both on the top and on the underside. These can measure up to six centimeters wide and have well-jagged margins.
It is said that the dew leaves that fall on these are not absorbed and that they appear to float on the leaves, as if some thin layer of air was in the middle of the sheet and drops. That is why it was believed to be the purest water that alchemists could find for their experiments. From there it derives its name.
Another reason why it is very used as an ornamental plantis that during the spring and summer seasons the plant sprouts and flowers that range from greenish to yellowish will appear that will give it an important contrast.
These are gathered in different inflorescences that have a cluster shape and are linked by floral stems in a reddish tone that give another important color to the plant.
Care
As for the ground, alchemilla not very pretentious, since can grow on any type of substrate that demonstrate a certain quality of drainage and the lighting conditions have to be precise, since this is a plant that develops better with the full plant alone or with partial shade.
Another feature that makes it very convenient for cultivation is that you rarely get sickso it shows good resistance to all types of pests. It is convenient to carry out a pruning, both to preserve its ornamental shape and to clean it of all kinds of remains of dried leaves, flowers and stems.
Medicinal properties
You should know that when we refer to the alchemilla We are not only talking about a plant with ornamental characteristics, it is also widely used in medicine. According to studies, it contains a large amount of tannins that are very beneficial for diarrhea problems.
Similarly, also contains a certain amount of salicylic acidwhich is not usually a lot, but can still serve as an antipyretic, analgesic and antirheumatic.
In traditional medicine we can also find many other usessuch as in treatments against obesity, feverish flu, gout, in addition to being used for certain inconveniences in menstruation, since it has beneficial properties, which cover and take care of the female reproductive system.
This natural supplement may be contraindicated for people with gastroduenal ulcers and cardiovascular problemsTherefore, it is always advisable to consult a specialist before using it.
