Botanical Name of Butterwort: Pinguicula vulgaris. Butterwort is an insectivorous/carnivorous plant that belongs to the bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae.) The genus name Pinguicula is derived from the Latin word “pinguis,” meaning fat referring to the thick, greasy appearance of the leaves. The English common name butterwort probably comes from the plant’s ability to curdle milk, but […]
Medicinal Herb Profiles
Khella (Ammi visnaga) – Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name of Khella: Ammi visnaga. The genus name “Ammi” derives from the Greek term “ammos” meaning “sand” and refers to the plant’s habitat. Khella is a member of the celery, carrot or parsley family (Apiaceae) and it has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times for a variety of ailments. It is […]
Chervil – Herb Uses as Spice and Benefits
Botanical Name of Chervil: Anthriscus cerefolium. Chervil is one of the first garden herbs that can be harvest in spring and traditionally viewed as a symbol of new life. The plant has a long history of use, and it was highly regarded as a spice and medicinal herb by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans. […]
Black Horehound Benefits and Uses
Botanical Name: Ballota nigra. In ancient Greece, the plant was known by the name “ballote” deriving from the Greek word “ballo” meaning to reject or repel. Probably because of the plant’s rather unpleasant taste and smell. The plant’s species name “nigra” derives from the Latin word niger meaning black, referring to the blackish appearance of […]
White Mulberry – Benefits and Medicinal Uses
Botanical Name: Morus alba. Today there are two subspecies or varieties of white mulberry that are recogized, Morus alba var. alba and Morus alba var. multicaulis. Other Common Names: Chinese white mulberry, Indian mulberry, morera (Spanish), Weisse Maulbeere (German), mûrier blanc (French), hvitmorbær (Norwegian), vitt mullbär (Swedish), sang ye (Chinese), valkomulperi (Finnish), hvid morbær (Danish). […]
Toothache Plant – Medicinal Properties and Herbal Uses
Botanical Name: Spilanthes acmella, Spilanthes oleracea, Acmella oleracea. It was Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin, an Austrian scientist, who in 1793 constructed and named the genus Spilanthes. The name Spilanthes is formed from the Greek words “spilos” meaning spot and “anthos” meaning flowers, due to the reddish spot on the top of the plant’s inflorescence. There […]
Silverweed Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits
Botanical Name: Potentilla anserina, Argentina anserina. The genus name Potentilla derives from the Latin word “Potentia” which means power. The other genus name Argentina is drawn from the Latin word “argentum” meaning silver. The species’ scientific name anserina means “of the goose”, either because the plant was used as food for geese or because the […]
Tormentil Benefits and Uses
Botanical Name: Potentilla erecta. Potentilla, the scientific name of the genus tormentil belongs to, derives from the Latin word “Potentia” which means power. Other Common Names: Septfoil, bloodroot, erect cinquefoil, shepherd’s knot, tormentilla (Spanish), Aufrechtes Fingerkraut (German), potentille dressée (French), tepperot (Norwegian), blodrot (Swedish), blóðmura (Icelandic), rätvänä (Finnish), blodrød (Danish). N.B. One of tormentil’s common […]
Psyllium Health Benefits and Herb Uses
Botanical Name: Plantago psyllium, Plantago afra. In recent years, the Latin name Plantago Afra has been deemed the correct scientific name of the plant. Still, Plantago psyllium is most commonly used and what is used in most herbal books. The common name psyllium can apply to at least three plant species (Plantago psyllium, Plantago arenaria, […]
Masterwort Herb Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name: Peucedanum ostruthium, Imperatoria ostruthium. Other Common Names: Imperatoria romana, servato (Spanish), Meisterwurz (German), benzoin francais (French), mesterrot (Norwegian), mästerrot (Swedish), rohtosuoputki (Finnish). Habitat: Masterwort is probably native to the mountainous areas of Central and Southern Europe, including the Carpathians, the Alps, northern Apennines, and the Massif Central but the plant has been widely […]