Betony
Other names
Bishop'S Wort, Wood Betony
Growth habit
Herbaceous
Perennation
Perennial
Native distribution
Europe and Asia
Biocultural value
One of the four chief flowers of the Ancients, it was extolled as a panacea. Popular during Ancient and Medieval eras for treating a wide range of ailments including headaches, colds, sorethroats, respiratory congestion and externally as a first aid remedy for wounds.
Location
Source of plant
Botanical Garden of Tartu State University
Description
Rosette-forming perennial, with stems reaching 3' in height, nearly glabrous to densely hirsute; leavesoblong to ovate-oblong, to 5" long, cordate at base, crenate or crenate-dentate, the lower long-petioled,the upper nearly sessile; inflorescence a dense spike, calyx to 1/4" long, corolla red-purple, rarely pink orwhite, tube longer than the calyx; spring-blooming.
USDA Hardiness Zone
5
Special characteristics
medicinal/pharmaceutical