Wood Avens (Geum urbanum)
Common Names:
Wood Avens, Herb Bennet, Colewort, St Benedict's Herb
Description:
Wood Avens, scientifically known as Geum urbanum, belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and is commonly found in woodlands, hedges, and shaded areas. Its Latin name, urbanum, meaning 'city dweller,' reflects its historical presence in urban areas. The plant features upright, hairy stems with small, yellow, five-petalled flowers, three-lobed greyish leaves, spiky brown seeds, and aromatic, spicy roots.
Habitat and Distribution:
Wood Avens thrives in shaded areas, woodlands, scrub, hedgerows, roadsides, and gardens. It is widespread and very common in various environments.
Identification:
The plant has distinctive strawberry-like leaves arranged in a rosette, with tall flower stalks bearing bright yellow flowers between May and August. The roots, when crushed, emit a clove-like scent.
Food Uses:
Both leaves and roots of Wood Avens are utilized for culinary purposes. The aromatic roots, reminiscent of cloves, add flavor to soups, broths, stews, sauces, fruit pies, and stewed fruit. They can be combined with orange peel for mulled drinks or boiled in milk for an Indian-style chai tea. Leaves can be infused to make a hot, mildly spicy cordial. Dried Wood Avens is used as seasoning, and the leaves are added to spicy salads.
Medicinal Uses:
Traditionally, Wood Avens roots and rhizomes have been used in herbal medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders, oral diseases, and skin complaints. It has been employed for issues such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, constipation, indigestion, stomach upsets, appetite loss, throat and mouth infections, chilblains, and hemorrhoids. Herbalists have also used it historically to treat poison, dog bites, and liver disease, and currently for gout, diarrhea, heart disease, and ulcers.
Safety Notes:
Due to its high tannin content, caution is advised, and some texts recommend avoiding large quantities. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals may want to avoid it.
Other Uses:
Wood Avens has been historically used as a flea repellent, and its aromatic roots were placed among clothes to deter moths.
Important to Other Species:
Wood Avens serves as a food source for the Grizzled Skipper Butterfly caterpillar.
Other Information:
The roots were once used as a protective amulet against evil spirits, snakes, and rabid dogs. In folklore, Wood Avens roots were considered protective, and it has been used to mask the smell of clothes in times when bathing was less frequent. Additionally, Wood Avens has been associated with deterring moths.