Hedge Woundwort

Description:

This is a tall (approx 70cm tall) perennial herb growing in massif near water - on edges of a small pond and in shade of trees. It produces masses of large and opposite leaves, that somehow draws the attention from the inflorescence.... Flowers are discreet and small, about 10mm tall, but once you notice them, they are spectacular, purple with whitish pattern. The flowers are grouped in a dense terminal inflorescence, spike. As seen in close-ups (Photos N° 1, 2 and 3), the entire plant is hairy.

Habitat:

Native to Eurasia, this woundwort was observed in local forest-and-meadow like park, on the fence of the small pond. The park itself is at the outskirts of the town center, rather rural area in lowlands around Geneva lake (lac Leman), just between Alps and Jura mountain ranges.

Notes:

The plant is edible in spite of its strong and unpleasant odour... The smell disappears when treated with heat, and is replaced with a bolets like pleasant smell; therefore, leaves and flowers are used finely minced as herbs for omelettes and dishes with mushrooms. Besides, it was noted that the plant has medicinal effects as well, and it helps in healing wounds.