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Calgary
Alberta
Canada
Reader Rock Garden
nature
flora
flower
flowers
Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
medicinal
anxiety
heart
Labiatae
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Motherwort / Leonurus cardiaca

Motherwort / Leonurus cardiaca
Photographed this plant at Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. An interesting plant that has a lot of medicinal properties.

"Motherwort is an upright prickly bush with a height of up to 5 feet and a width of 2 feet. The flowers are pale pink to purple, very hairy, in whorls of 6 to 12, alternating up the stems with leaves. The leaves are dark green above, pale below, oak-shaped and deeply lobed into three, especially at the bottom.

The early Greeks gave motherwort to pregnant women suffering from anxiety. This use continued and gave the herb the name mother wort, or “mother’s herb.” Its other prominent action is on the heart, giving it the species name cardiaca or the Greek kardiaca, or heart. Leonurus comes from the Greek leon for “lion” and ouros for “tail”, as the plant was thought to resemble the tail of a lion. There is an old tale about a town whose water source is a stream flowing through banks of motherwort. Many of the townspeople lived to be 130 years old and recall one who reportedly lived to 300 years. In ancient China, motherwort was reputed to promote longevity. In Europe, motherwort first became known as a treatment for cattle diseases. Colonists introduced motherwort into North America and the 19 th century Eclectics recommended it as a menstruation promoter and aid to expelling the afterbirth. They did not consider it a heart remedy at all. The Cherokees used the herb as a sedative for nervous afflictions. In the Victorian Language of Flowers it symbolizes concealed love."

www.susunweed.com/Article_Motherwort.htm

, Puzzler4879, LeapFrog have particularly liked this photo


Comments
 LeapFrog
LeapFrog
Ha, what an unusual plant ... like Helicopter blades and this plant is just about to take off to places unknown ... great find and an outstanding shot and presentation ... well done!!
11 years ago.
 Puzzler4879
Puzzler4879
A spectacular plant and an awesome shot, Anne!
Enjoyed in www.ipernity.com/group/26705.
11 years ago.
 Jan
Jan
Great detail

Seen in:
Beautiful Flowers
11 years ago.

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