Alchemilla

Summary

Alchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Rosaceae, with the common name lady's mantle applied generically as well as specifically to Alchemilla mollis when referred to as a garden plant. The plant used as a herbal tea or for medicinal usage such as gynaecological disorders is Alchemilla xanthochlora or in Middle Europe the so-called common lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris. There are about 700 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa and the Americas.[2]

Alchemilla
Alchemilla vulgaris
Botanical illustration of Alchemilla vulgaris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Potentilleae
Subtribe: Fragariinae
Genus: Alchemilla
L.
Type species
A. vulgaris
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Alchimilla Mill.
  • Aphanes L.
  • Lachemilla (Focke) Rydb.
  • Percepier Moench
  • Zygalchemilla Rydb.

Most species of Alchemilla are clump-forming or mounded perennials with basal leaves arising from woody rhizomes. Some species have leaves with lobes that radiate from a common point and others have divided leaves—both are typically fan-shaped with small teeth at the tips. The long-stalked, gray-green to green leaves are often covered with soft hairs, and show a high degree of water-resistance (see Lotus effect). Green to bright chartreuse flowers are small, have no petals and appear in clusters above the foliage in late spring and summer.

Selected species edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Alchemilla L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Alchemilla L." Atlas of Living Australia. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-02-11.