Pulicaria dysenterica

'Common Fleabane'

[Ex. Somerset, England]

Asteraceae: a creeping perennial with upright, branched, woolly flowering stems to 50cm. found in damp meadows and ditches on heavy soils. The flowers are 15-30mm across, with spreading yellow ray florets and deeper yellow, central disc, blooming from July-September. The leaves are heart shaped. Common in Britain, rare in northern England and almost absent from Scotland. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Denmark south and east to North Africa, Caucasus and Western Asia.

USES:

The bruised leaves have a soap-like smell, and they have astringent properties, and can be used in the treatment of dysentery. A paste of the plant is applied externally to wounds.

The plant is burnt to repel parasites.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds in spring, but readily grows from seed sown at any time of the year. Common fleabane is a native perennial of damp, open habitats such as water meadows, fens, damp woodland rides, dune slacks, damp hollows and the edges of water courses, lakes and ponds. It is found on a wide range of acidic and base-rich soils.

HARVESTED:

APPROX. 1000+ SEEDS