Alchemilla alpina - Alchémille des Alpes

Habitat

Exposition

Plein soleil ou mi-ombre

Humidité

Sol sec à moyen.

Sol

Tous sols. Tolère les sols très argileux. Nécessite un sol drainant.

pH

Non calcaire

Rusticité

Zone 5

Habitat originel

Meadows, pastureland and woodland clearings, mainly on acid soils[200].

Origine géographique

Western and Northern Europe.

Comestibilité

• The following uses are for A. vulgaris .
• They quite probably also apply for this species [K].
• Jeunes feuilles - crues ou cuites [5, 7].
• A dry, somewhat astringent flavour [K].
• They can be mixed with the leaves of Polygonum bistorta and Polygonum persicaria then used in making a bitter herb pudding called 'Easter ledger' which is eaten during Lent [177, 183].
• Racine - cuite .
• An astringent taste [4].
• The leaves are used commercially in the blending of tea [7].

Usages médicinaux

• Lady's mantle has a long history of herbal use, mainly as an external treatment for cuts and wounds, and internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and a number of women's ailments, especially menstrual problems [9, 244].
• This plant, the alpine ladies mantle, has been shown to be more effective in its actions [238, 268].
• The herb is alterative, antirheumatic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, styptic, tonic and vulnerary [4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165].
• The leaves and flowering stems are best harvested as the plant comes into flower and can then be dried for later use [4].
• The fresh root has similar and perhaps stronger properties to the leaves, but is less often used [4].
• The plant is rich in tannin and so is an effective astringent and styptic, commonly used both internally and externally in the treatment of wounds [4].
• It helps stop vaginal discharge and is also used as a treatment for excessive menstruation and to heal lesions after pregnancy [4, 244].
• Prolonged use can ease the discomfort of the menopause and excessive menstruation [268].
• The freshly pressed juice is used to help heal skin troubles such as acne and a weak decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of conjunctivitis [244].

Culture

• Easily grown in ordinary soil in sun or part shade [1, 233].
• Prefers a well-drained acid soil [200, 238].
• Pousse bien dans les sols très argileux .
• Succeeds in dry shade [188].
• Plants in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits [233].

Propagation

• Graine - Semez au printemps sous un chassis .
• The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 16°c [133].
• When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer .
• Division au printemps ou à l'automne .
• The divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we find it best to pot them up and keep them in a sheltered position until they are growing away well .