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Alchemilla xanthochlora - Rothm.                
                 
Common Name Lady's Mantle
Family Rosaceae
Synonyms A. mollis. A. speciosa. A. xanthochlora. Rothm.
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist meadows, open woods, pastures and also on rock ledges in mountainous areas[9, 244].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain and east to Poland.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of flower
Alchemilla xanthochlora is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to September, and the seeds ripen from Aug to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Apomictic.The plant is self-fertile.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Alchemilla xanthochlora Lady


(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010
Alchemilla xanthochlora Lady
   
Habitats       
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Ground Cover; Meadow;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Leaves;  Root.
Edible Uses:

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].
Medicinal Uses


Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Alterative;  Antirheumatic;  Astringent;  Diuretic;  Emmenagogue;  Febrifuge;  Sedative;  Styptic;  Tonic;  Vulnerary.

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].
Other Uses
A useful ground cover plant, though somewhat slow to spread[197].
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].
                                                                                 
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.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
Rothm.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
17
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

  [K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[5]Mabey. R. Food for Free.
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.
[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
[9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[50]? Flora Europaea
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
[133]Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1.
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
[165]Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small herbal.
[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
[197]Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants.
A handy little booklet from the R.H.S.
[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
[244]Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
[268]Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

Readers comment                                         
 
Elizabeth H.
Johanna Fri Jul 17 2009
How can I plant this in my garden?
Elizabeth H.
david Fri Jul 17 2009
Joanna, see under "Cultivation details" above, it is usually an easy plant to grow
Paulo B.
Jun 27 2011 12:00AM
Here where I live in South Iceland, its Lady Mantle kingdom. Alchemilla Filicaulis, the native Lady Mantle grows everywhere, because I suppose the cool and wet summer is just the perfect climate for Lady Mantles. I think they grow well in shady and humid places in southern countries. Here in Iceland, we have several species of Alchemilla, very identical to each other. Some have hairs over the pecioles, others not. The Alchemilla Mollis, the common one, has much larger hairy leaves, that are very soft, and flowers later than the other species. I think the other Alchemilla species are more beautiful because they flower much more abundantly in a beautiful carpet of golden-yellow flowers. The flowers have a nice sweet but rather peculiar scent. They grow well after division. The A.Alpina has much smaller incised leaves, and grows in more cold and exposed habitats here in Iceland. But as I can see here, all Alchemillas are very cold hardy.
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