This week I was
surprised to find several small stands of Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) at Holt Wood. I usually head for patches of
yellow as they are likely to be Ragworts
- the Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) can
spread quickly, and when dried it is toxic to cattle and sheep. This is not
such a problem for us but not good for hay in the neighbouring grass meadow so I
try to stop the plants reaching seedbearing stage to reduce spread. As I
grasped this particular plant to pull it out of the ground I suddenly realised that
it just did not have the right leaves for Ragwort which are pinnatifid, or
deeply cut in lobes. The leaves of the Goldenrod are entire and untoothed. Goldenrod
is the only native to the UK of the Solidago species, although the introduced
species of Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago
canadensis) and Early Goldenrod (S.
gigantea) are listed in Francis Rose, The
Wild Flower Key (2006 edition). Perhaps the dryness of the summer has
encouraged the Goldenrod this year. The plant (flowers and leaves) is aromatic,
stimulant, carminative according to Maud Grieve, A Modern Herbal (1976
edition) but present day use is more likely to be as an astringent and diuretic.
There is a detailed US Solidago spp.
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| Solidago virgaurea 5 September 2013 |
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| Goldenrod flowers |
http://www.methowvalleyherbs.com/2012/10/goldenrod-torch-of-healing.html
Goldenrod has many potential uses from wound healing to
kidney supprt, and makes a tasty tea. When we have expanded our population of
Goldenrod then we can harvest to dry and have an ongoing supply.
Exeter Green Fair
What a great day out! Lots of stalls promoting sustainable living and wonderful foods. There were a few rain showers but we were
saved by our neat self-erecting (almost) gazebo. Our stand for the Medicinal
Forest Garden Trust carried information about Tree Aid, local herbal
practitioners offering drop ins, and projects involved in medicinal tree and
shrub growing including Holt Wood. Our Plant Identification Quiz
drew quite a few people in to try their luck - several people correctly identified at least 10
medicinal plants and won a bottle of
organic Lavender Essential Oil. Thanks
to Helen, Kay and others for all their help - it was great to chat with
visitors about sustainable herbal medicine and the Distilled Witch Hazel (first
in Devon and available at www.herbaid.org.uk) provoked a lot of interest and discussion about air miles in getting
supplies of herbs and cosmetics. Congratulations to raffle winners who won a
bottle of Bickleigh-grown wine, a herbal first aid kit and other goodies.
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| Exeter Green Fair, September 2013 |
