Agrimonia (from the Greek ), commonly known as agrimony (, ), is a genus of 12–15 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with one species also in Africa. The species grow to between tall, with interrupted pinnate leaves, and tiny yellow flowers borne on a single (usually unbranched) spike.
Agrimonia species are used as food plants by the larva of some Lepidoptera species including grizzled skipper (recorded on A. eupatoria) and large grizzled skipper.
Species Agrimonia eupatoria – Common agrimony (Europe, Asia, Africa) Agrimonia gryposepala – Common agrimony, tall hairy agrimony (North America) Agrimonia incisa – Incised agrimony (North America) Agrimonia coreana – Korean agrimony (eastern Asia) Agrimonia microcarpa – Smallfruit agrimony (North America) Agrimonia nipponica – Japanese agrimony (eastern Asia) Agrimonia parviflora – Harvestlice agrimony (North America) Agrimonia pilosa – Hairy agrimony (eastern Europe, Asia) Agrimonia procera – Fragrant agrimony (Europe) Agrimonia pubescens – Soft or downy agrimony (North America) Agrimonia repens – Short agrimony (southwest Asia) Agrimonia rostellata – Beaked agrimony (North America) Agrimonia striata – Roadside agrimony (North America)
Uses In ancient times, it was used for foot baths and tired feet. Agrimony has a long history of medicinal use. The English poet Michael Drayton once hailed it as an "all-heal" and through the ages it was considered a panacea. The ancient Greeks used agrimony to treat eye ailments, and it was made into brews for diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys.Galen (Κλαύδιος Γαληνός), De methodo medendi 13.920K. . The Anglo-Saxons boiled agrimony in milk and used it to improve erectile performance.Lacey, R. and Danziger, D. (1999) In The Year 1000 London: Little, Brown & Co, p. 126 They also made a solution from the leaves and seeds for healing wounds; this use continued through the Middle Ages and afterward, in a preparation called eau d'arquebusade, or "musket-shot water". It has been added to tea as a spring tonic. According to the German Federal Commission E (Phytotherapy)-Monograph "Agrimony", published 1990, the internal application area is "mild, nonspecific, acute diarrhea" and "inflammation of oral and pharyngeal mucosa" and the external application "mild, superficial inflammation of the skin".German Federal Commission E Monographs (Phytotherapy): Monograph Agrimony (Agrimoniae herba). Bundesanzeiger. March 13, 1990. – www.heilpflanzen-welt.de.
Folklore Traditional British folklore states that if a sprig of Agrimonia eupatoria was placed under a person's head, they would sleep until it was removed.Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions by Gabrielle Hatfield, p.310
See also Aremonia agrimonoides (Bastard-agrimony, of the related genus Aremonia) Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp-agrimony)
References
External links
Agrimonia L.—Atlas of Living Australia "Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria, pilosa, grysopetela and other species)"—Herb Forum