Lady's mantle or Alchemilla vulgaris grows on dry grounds and shady places.
Lady's Mantle or Alchemilla vulgaris showed the glistening beads
of water on its toothed leaves. In the middelages this
"Himmelwasser" was collected and used for alchemy.
A classical "Himmelwasser" photo, Dew formed a .
lake in the middle of the leave of Lady's mantle.
guttation on the leave of Lady's mantle
guttation on Lady's mantle
Dewdrops can be seen on the leaves of Lady's mantle
especially in the early morning. But these are no
real dewdrops , but are waterdrops excreted by
the lady's mantle.
This process is called guttation and happens when
the water-saturation of the atmosphere is high
like early in the morning. At that moment the plant
isn't capable anymore to loose it's water by
evaporation. It removes the water excess by
pumping the water through the 'hydatodes'
(open water-mouths).
Many other plants are capable of doing this,
take a look at water horsetail
Lady's mantle or Alchemilla vulgaris
Lady's mantle produces clusters of lovely small, soft yellow
star shaped flowers. It can be usd as a ground covers on
shady places and dry grounds.
Lady's mantle collects waterdrops on the edge of the toothed
leaves and forms small pools inside the leaves.
Description
A throughout green plant, with dark brown ,almost black roots
The height is a about one foot, and the plant is completely
covered with tiny hairs.
Propagation
Plant or seed Lady's mantle in a shady place in the spring
so it will have enough time to grow before wintertime.
Lady's mantle is a perrenial plant wich needs little support.
Other species
Alchemilla erythropoda: with red flowers
Alchemilla mollis : the most sold
Alchemilla alpius : The leaves all have a grey border, and covered with lucious hairs Duits: Alpen-Silbermantel.
Alchemilla faeroensis : grows in shadow and covers the ground, Icelands lady's mantle.
Alchemilla grossidens : strong and covers the ground Duits: Grobzähniger Frauenmantel.
Alchemilla arvensis : used as a herbal medicine the Field Lady's Mantle or Parsley Piert,
Herbal treatment
Lady's mantle has a wide distribution in cosmetica as a way to
soften the skin.
The tea is used a a treatment for menstruation problems:
it is employed as a cure for excessive menstruation.
Parsley Piert is an herbal medicine used to treat kidney stones.
