Family Name: Rosaceae
Botanical Name(s): Potentilla anserina
Popular Name(s): Crampweed, Goosegrass, Goose Tansy, Moor Grass,
Silver Cinquefoil, Prince's Feathers, Goosewort, Goose Tansy
Parts Used: Herb
Habitat: Silverweed is widely found in Great Britain and
throughout the temperate regions.
Description: Silverweed is a low perennial plant with a slender,
branched root-stock. Its leaves are covered on both sides with silky,
white soft hairs. The leaves are 2 to 5 inches long and are divided into
twelve to fifteen pairs of oval, toothed leaflets along the midrib. The
plant bears bright-yellow flowers that grow singly on long peduncles
from May to September.
Uses: Silverweed has antispasmodic and astringent properties. A
decoction of it is used for ulcers in the mouth, relaxation of the
uvula, spongy gums and for fixing loose teeth. Its tea is an excellent
remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery.
