Rosebay Willowherb
How To ID Me And What I’m Good For?
My ID Features:
Flowers
Leaves
Leaves & stem
Rosebay willowherb
Latin Name - Chamerion angustifolium.
Common Names - Rosebay willowherb, Great willowherb, Fireweed, Bombweed.
Family - Onagraceae.
Season - Spring & summer (flowering during summer).
Edible bits - Flowers, leaves & stems.
Habitat - Disturbed ground, such as woodland clearings, verges and waste ground.
Possible Confusion - Himalayan Balsam [Impatiens Glandulifera] or most likely Purple Loosestrife [Lythrum Salicaria].
Description - A foragers superfood. The young stems make a great asparagus substitute. The young leaves can be used in salads or cooked. And, the flowers are great sprinkled on salads. As noted by Robin Harford, Rosebay contains 90 times the vitamin A, and 4 times the vitamin C than an orange! The leaves become more bitter as the season progresses so it’s best picked whilst young. During the 19th centaury this plant was mostly confined to the upper Britain, but it now ubiquitous. Each plant produces up to 80,000 seeds! Interestingly the dried leaves are used in Russia to make a tea called ‘Ivan Chai’. Said to be very similar to black tea but without the caffeine. Teas made from Rosebay, are said to be high in iron, copper, potassium and calcium.
Physical Characteristics - A tall and very distinctive plant, with tall spires of purple flowers.
The reddish stems of this perennial are usually simple, erect, smooth. Growing to 0.5–2.5 metres high with scattered alternate stalkless leaves. The leaves are spirally arranged, entire, narrowly lanceolate and pinnately veined.
The flowers are 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter, slightly asymmetrical, with four magenta to pink petals and four narrower pink sepals behind.
Medicinal Qualities - Said to be anti-inflammatory, soothing, aids in the reduction of bleeding. There are many supposed herbal uses. But unable (as of yet) to find any scientific data to back these claims.
Harvesting Sustainability - An abundant plant in the UK. Provided you collect from a place where there are many, you are unlikely to damage local populations.
Never munch on a hunch! Volf takes no responsibility for anything consumed.
Now For The Tasty Bit!
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