Meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata) grows in non-acidic
well-drained soils, mainly in the eastern parts of the United Kingdom such as
the Breckland area of Norfolk. It used to be more widespread in meadows
throughout much of Britain, but the uprooting of hedges has been a major
element in its decline.
Meadow saxifrage grows up to 20 inches (50 cm) in height,
each plant having a single stem that is straight and hairy until it branches
near the top. It has long-stalked, kidney-shaped leaves that are hairy and
toothed or lobed. Leaves that encircle the base may wither when the flowers
appear. The flowers, which appear between April and June, have narrow white
petals with green veins. When ripe, the fruit splits open at the top to release
the seeds. Tiny bulbs form where the stalks of the lower leaves join the stem.
These bulbs are the means by which the plant perpetuates itself.
The word saxifrage means ‘stone-breaking’, and it is
possible that this name was originally given to the plant by the Romans because
they found it growing in crevices of rocks and wrongly assumed that it had been
responsible for breaking those rocks apart.
However, according to Pliny the Elder, the plant was given
the name because it had the medicinal power of breaking up gallstones in the
bile duct. This idea almost certainly came from the ancient belief that plants
with powers to cure disease display a sign to indicate how they should be used.
It was therefore ‘obvious’ that a plant that grew stone-like brown bulbs around
the base of its stem was intended to dissolve small stones in the body.
© John Welford
No comments:
Post a Comment