''Alchemilla'' is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family
Rosaceae
Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera.
The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are '' Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorb ...
, with the common name lady's mantle applied generically as well as specifically to ''
Alchemilla mollis
''Alchemilla mollis'', the garden lady's-mantle or lady's-mantle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to southern Europe and grown throughout the world as an ornamental garden plant. I ...
'' when referred to as a garden plant. The plant used as a herbal tea or for medicinal usage such as gynaecological disorders is ''
Alchemilla xanthochlora'' or in Middle Europe the so-called common lady's mantle ''
Alchemilla vulgaris''. There are about 700 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa and the Americas.
Most species of ''Alchemilla'' are clump-forming or mounded perennials with basal leaves arising from woody rhizomes. Some species have leaves with lobes that radiate from a common point and others have divided leaves—both are typically fan-shaped with small teeth at the tips. The long-stalked, gray-green to green leaves are often covered with soft hairs, and show a high degree of water-resistance (see
Lotus effect
The lotus effect refers to self-cleaning properties that are a result of ultrahydrophobicity as exhibited by the leaves of ''Nelumbo'', the lotus flower. Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to the micro- and nanoscopic architec ...
). Green to bright chartreuse flowers are small, have no petals and appear in clusters above the foliage in late spring and summer.
Selected species
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Alchemilla abyssinica''
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Alchemilla alpina
''Alchemilla alpina'', commonly known as alpine lady's-mantle, is an arctic-montane herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Southern Greenland.
Alpine lady's-mantle has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy, and is used in horticult ...
'' — alpine lady's mantle
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Alchemilla argyrophylla''
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Alchemilla barbatiflora''
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Alchemilla bursensis''
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Alchemilla conjuncta''
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Alchemilla diademata'' diadem lady's mantle
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Alchemilla ellenbeckii''
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Alchemilla erythropoda'' — dwarf lady's mantle
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Alchemilla filicaulis'' — thinstem lady's mantle
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Alchemilla flabellata'' — fan lady's mantle
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Alchemilla glabra
''Alchemilla glabra'' is a species of plants belonging to the family Rosaceae
Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera.
The name is derived from the type genus ...
'' — smooth lady's mantle
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Alchemilla glaucescens'' — waxy lady's mantle
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Alchemilla glomerulans'' — clustered lady's mantle
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Alchemilla gracilis''
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''
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Alchemilla japonica''
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Alchemilla jaroschenkoi
''Alchemilla jaroschenkoi'', the holotrichous lady's mantle, is a species of lady's mantle that is endemic to Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Az ...
'' — holotrichous lady's mantle
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Alchemilla johnstonii''
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Alchemilla lapeyrousii'' — Lapeyrous' lady's mantle
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Alchemilla mollis
''Alchemilla mollis'', the garden lady's-mantle or lady's-mantle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to southern Europe and grown throughout the world as an ornamental garden plant. I ...
''
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Alchemilla monticola
''Alchemilla monticola'', also called hairy lady's mantle, is a species of plant belonging to the family Rosaceae.
It is native range extends from Europe to Siberia and Central China
Central China () is a geographical and a loosely define ...
'' — hairy lady's mantle
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Alchemilla orbiculata''
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Alchemilla sericata''
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Alchemilla splendens''
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Alchemilla stricta
''Alchemilla stricta'' is a species of lady's mantle that is endemic to Turkey. It is only known from five locations; around Kağızman, Lake Abant, Sarıkamış, Karagöl-Sahara and the Efeler
Efeler is a new lçe(district) and second l ...
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Alchemilla subcrenata'' — broadtooth lady's mantle
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Alchemilla stuhlmanii''
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Alchemilla subcrenata''
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Alchemilla subnivalis''
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Alchemilla triphylla''
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Alchemilla venosa'' — boreal lady's mantle
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Alchemilla vestita''
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Alchemilla vulgaris''
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Alchemilla wichurae'' — grassland lady's mantle
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Alchemilla xanthochlora''
References
{{Authority control
Alchemilla
Rosaceae genera