Golden Rod Plant

Edith Holden mentioned and illustrated the Golden Rod Plant in her Nature Notes on 14th August 1906.  She was on holiday in Scotland at that time.

John Gerard included this plant in the 1597 Herbal.  He complains of people going further afield in search of remedies that can already be found near home.

‘It is to be extolled above all other herbes for the stopping of bloud in bleeding wounds; and hath in times past beene had in great estimation and regard than in these daies. ..Thus much I have spoken to bring

these new fangled fellowes backe again to esteeme better of this admirable plant than they have done, which no doubt have the same virtue now that then it had, although it growes so neere our owne homes in never so great quantity.

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Creeping Loosestrife Plant

Edith illustrated the ‘Creeping Loosestrife’ in her Nature Notes of 1906.  This plant is also known to some as Creeping Jenny, Moneywort or ‘herb twopence’, possibly due to the leaves laying two by two along the stem.

‘It was felt to be a most beneficial plant, one of the very best for treating wounds, and useful also for scurvy and haemorrhage. Boiled with wine and honey, it was believed to be a useful treatment for whooping cough. In Chinese traditional medicine it’s used to treat kidney and urinary stones, and it’s also said to be useful in the alleviation of gout’. Extract From the Bugwoman London Blog

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