Nature Happenings #6

Dew drop bejewelled lady's mantle

Lady’s Mantle covered in pearls

Hello, Emma here with this week’s Nature Happenings!

Following on from the Henry David Thoreau quote that Andrew shared above, behold Lady’s Mantle, the ultimate pearl collector!

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) is a member of the rose family, growing mainly in upland areas on acidic soils. At first glance, it may seem to be a fairly unassuming leafy plant, but catch it covered in tiny spheres of dew and suddenly it is something incredibly beautiful. The leaves are hydrophobic, covered in tiny microscopic hairs that catch moisture and turn it into perfect tiny spheres that cling to the edges and centre of the leaves like jewels.

Folklore tells that the dew which collects in Lady’s Mantle contains magic and early alchemists believed it could turn base metals into gold (the scientific name ‘alchemilla’ comes from the word alchemy). Maybe next time, I will sample a couple of drops…

Lady’s Mantle has many medicinal uses. Traditionally, the flowers were used in tea and given to women in late pregnancy to tone the uterus and encourage birth, and it’s also said to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Due to its astringent properties, the leaves can be crushed and used to help heal wounds and I read (in Mo Wilde’s book, The Wilderness Cure) that a skin oil can be made using an infusion of the leaves to help smooth out wrinkles.

Let us know if you’ve spotted Lady’s Mantle and do report back on any magical effects if you try drinking the dew!