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Difference between revisions of "Veronica officinalis - Paul's betony"
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Revision as of 16:03, 24 January 2017
Veronica officinalis (heath speedwell, common gypsyweed,[1] common speedwell, or Paul's betony) is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and is widely naturalised there.
Contents
Description
It is a herbaceous perennial with hairy green stems 10–50 cm long that cover the ground in mats and send up short vertical shoots which bear soft violet flowers. The leaves are 1.5–5 cm long and 1–3 cm broad, and softly hairy.
It flowers from May until August.
Uses
This speedwell grows in fields and takes hold in areas that have been disturbed. It is a potential weed if its seed gets into collections of agricultural seed, such as alfalfa. Historically the green parts of the plant have been used medicinally for coughs, otitis media, and gastrointestinal distress.[citation needed] The plant is rich in vitamins, tannins, and the glycoside aucuboside.[Clarification needed] Aucuboside, which is also found in many other Plantaginaceae species, is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties.[citation needed] Extracts are widely sold as herbal remedies for sinus and ear infections.
Veronica officinalis herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally (as tea) for treatment of disorders of the nervous system, respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, and metabolism.
