Alchemilla xanthochlora - Lady's Mantle

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	A. mollis. A. speciosa. A. xanthochlora. Rothm.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain and east to Poland.

Alchemilla xanthochlora (Lady's Mantle) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 5and is vunerable to frost.
Lady's Mantle will flower in December to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Apomictic

Soil Information

Lady's Mantle will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Lady's Mantle prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Lady's Mantle can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Moist meadows, open woods, pastures and also on rock ledges in mountainous areas[9, 244].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in ordinary soil in sun or part shade[1, 233]. Prefers a well-drained neutral or basic soil[1, 17]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in dry shade[188]. An aggregate species that includes A. mollis and A. speciosa[1]. This plant is listed as A. xanthochlora. Rothm. in 'Flora Europaea'[50]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked[5, 7]. A dry, somewhat astringent flavour[K]. They can be mixed with the leaves of Polygonum bistorta and Polygonum persicaria then used in making a bitter herb pudding called 'Easter ledger' which is eaten during Lent[177, 183]. Root - cooked. An astringent taste[4]. The leaves are used commercially in the blending of tea[7].

• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Lady's mantle has a long history of herbal use, mainly as an external treatment for cuts and wounds, and internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and a number of women's ailments, especially menstrual problems[9, 244]. The herb is alterative, antirheumatic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, styptic, tonic and vulnerary[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165]. The leaves and flowering stems are best harvested as the plant comes into flower and can then be dried for later use[4]. The fresh root has similar and perhaps stronger properties to the leaves, but is less often used[4]. The plant is rich in tannin and so is an effective astringent and styptic, commonly used both internally and externally in the treatment of wounds[4]. It helps stop vaginal discharge and is also used as a treatment for excessive menstruation and to heal lesions after pregnancy[4, 244]. Prolonged use can ease the discomfort of the menopause and excessive menstruation[268]. The freshly pressed juice is used to help heal skin troubles such as acne and a weak decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of conjunctivitis[244].

• Alterative - Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
• Antirheumatic - Treats rheumatism.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Styptic - An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 16°c[133]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. The divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we find it best to pot them up and keep them in a sheltered position until they are growing away well.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A useful ground cover plant, though somewhat slow to spread[197].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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