''Agrimonia'' (from the Greek ), commonly known as agrimony, is a genus of 12–15 species of

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...

s 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 ...

, native to the temperate regions of the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...

, with one species also in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. The species grow to between tall, with interrupted

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, an ...

leaves A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...

, and tiny yellow

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanis ...

s borne on a single (usually unbranched) spike. ''Agrimonia'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described speci ...

species including

grizzled skipper ''Pyrgus'' is a genus in the skippers butterfly family, Hesperiidae, known as the grizzled skippers. The name "checkered" or "chequered skipper" may also be applied to some species, but also refers to species in the genera '' Burnsius'' and '' ...

(recorded on ''A. eupatoria'') and large grizzled skipper.

Species

*'' Agrimonia eupatoria'' – Common agrimony (Europe, Asia, Africa) *'' Agrimonia gryposepala'' – Common agrimony, tall hairy agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia incisa'' – Incised agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia coreana'' – Korean agrimony (eastern Asia) *'' Agrimonia microcarpa'' – Smallfruit agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia nipponica'' – Japanese agrimony (eastern Asia) *'' Agrimonia parviflora'' – Harvestlice agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia pilosa'' – Hairy agrimony (eastern Europe, Asia) *'' Agrimonia procera'' – Fragrant agrimony (Europe) *'' Agrimonia pubescens'' – Soft or downy agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia repens'' – Short agrimony (southwest Asia) *'' Agrimonia rostellata'' – Beaked agrimony (North America) *'' Agrimonia striata'' – Roadside agrimony (North America)

Uses

In ancient times, it was used for foot baths and tired feet. Agrimony has a long history of medicinal use. The English poet Michael Drayton once hailed it as an "all-heal" and through the ages it was considered a

panacea In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek ''Πανάκεια'', Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art: * Panacea (the goddess of univers ...

. The ancient Greeks used agrimony to treat eye ailments, and it was made into brews for diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. The Anglo-Saxons boiled agrimony in milk and used it to improve erectile performance. They also made a solution from the leaves and seeds for healing wounds; this use continued through the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

and afterward, in a preparation called ''eau d'arquebusade'', or "musket-shot water". It has been added to tea as a spring tonic.

Folklore

Traditional British folklore states that if a sprig of '' Agrimonia eupatoria'' was placed under a person's head, they would sleep until it was removed.''Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions'' by Gabrielle Hatfield, p.310

References

External links

*
Herb Forum Agrimony Thread
{{Taxonbar, from=Q264427 Medicinal plants Agrimoniinae Rosaceae genera Taxa named by Joseph Pitton de Tournefort

Species

Uses

Folklore

See also

References

External links