Moorland Ramblings

Names

• Tormentil
• Potentilla Erecta

Flowering Period

• May to October

Identify

A low-growing, downy plant, Tormentil has yellow flowers with four petals, and glossy, deeply toothed leaves with three lobes and silvery undersides

About

Tormentil is a very common, low growing herb that is found in acidic soils, heathland and moorland, providing nectar for solitary bees. It is distinguished from buttercups, as Tormentil has only four petals (where a buttercup has five)

Uses

• Tea can be made from the root of Tormentil, which was used to treat diarrhoea, colic and other digestive problems.
• A poultice was made from the leaves and applied to wounds, eczema and rashes to help them heal
• The roots were chewed, to cure toothache and sore throats
• The root has also been used as a source of both a red and a yellow dye

Folklore Stories

Nil