Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Prescription only medicine: aspirin

Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THMR).

Culpeper: “... the roots ... provoke urine, ease pain in the bladder, and are a good preservative against the falling sickness [epilepsy].”
Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole. p.8

The common name, Dropwort’, reflects its use against epilepsy, the falling sickness. The Latin name means ‘hanging threads’, which refers to the structure of the roots. It is still used in herbal medicine, and – in emergencies – the leaves and roots may be eaten raw or cooked.
Oakeley, Dr. H. F. (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis.

Nomenclature

Filipendula, Dropwort in Culpepper.
Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole. p.8

The Latin name, Filipendual, means ‘hanging threads’, which refers to the structure of the roots.
Oakeley, Dr. H. F. (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis.

Previously Spiraea vulgaris, from which aspirin was synthesised hence its name being 'a-spiraea-in' indicating the acetyl group (a-) and the latinised ending (-in)

Other use

In emergencies, the leaves and roots may be eaten raw or cooked.
Oakeley, Dr. H. F. (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis.

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, North European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Northwest European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, South European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Slovakia
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Filipendula vulgaris Moench

Family: ROSACEAE
Genus: Filipendula
Species: vulgaris Moench
Common names: Dropwort
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Filipendula
Distribution summary: N.Africa, Eurasia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Dry, grassy slopes amongst rocks , usually on calcareous soils
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Roots' (HSE 2)
Flowering months: May, June, July, August
Reason for growing: Medicinal, prescription only medicine


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