Mouse-ear Hawkweed – Pilosella officinarum

MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED
Pilosella officinarum

Mouse-ear HawkweedMouse-ear Hawkweed

Common name: Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Latin name: Pilosella officinarum
Other names: Pilosella
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat: Mouse-ear Hawkweed is native to Europe and northern Asia. The plant prefers dry and sunny areas and sandy soils.
Description: Mouse-ear Hawkweed is a perennial plant. It has a basal rosette of leaves, and a leafless flowering stem up to 50 cm tall, sprouting from the centre of the rosette.  The whole plant, except for the flowers is covered with white to red glandular hairs. The flower heads are borne singly, and are pale yellow in color. Flowering occurs from May until October. New rosettes are produced either on stolons, in the leaf axils of senescing rosettes, or from the underground bud bank on the rootstock.
Parts used: Aerial parts
Useful components: Umbelliferone, flavonoids, caffeic and chlorogenic acids.
Medicinal use: Mouse-ear Hawkweed has astringent, tonic, expectorant and diuretic properties. It relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tubes, reduces the production of catarrh and can be an excellent remedy against whooping cough, but also very helpful for other respiratory conditions, such as asthma, wheeziness and bronchitis.  Used fresh, the plant is an excellent antibiotic. It can also be used in treatment of enteritis, flu and cystitis. It can also be used externally to treat small wounds and cuts.
Safety: Some herbs could react with certain medication. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption of any herb.

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