Anyone heard of Blind Wort?

Susie · #1 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 02:23 PM

Growing in my front garden under an oak is a low evergreen plant I didn't recognise. Yesterday at Wakefield Place some was growing and labelled "Blind Wort" (I think). There was also a latin name, but I don't remember what it was cos it's all Greek to me.

I've been trying to look up Blind Wort in my gardening books and online to find out more about this plant but have drawn a complete blank.

Has anyone heard of it/have any information on this plant?

Many thanks,

Susie x

svenrufus · #2 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 02:29 PM

No clue I'm afraid, so joy on line, and Stace has nothing like it.
Any chance of a picture?

Susie · #3 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 02:33 PM

As it is you I shall brave the rain and go and take a picture.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

Growing in my front garden under an oak is a low evergreen plant I didn't recognise. Yesterday at Wakefield Place some was growing and labelled "Blind Wort" (I think). There was also a latin name, but I don't remember what it was cos it's all Greek to me.

I've been trying to look up Blind Wort in my gardening books and online to find out more about this plant but have drawn a complete blank.

Has anyone heard of it/have any information on this plant?

Many thanks,

Susie x

I've never heard of Blindwort Susie, but there is a plant called Birthwort, which I guess sounds similar! Could this be your plant- it's native in the Med, but established in some places here as an alien, especially around abbeys, etc.

It was planted around abbeys where it was used in midwifery. Apparently it was used to induce abortions where monks had been naughty with nuns!!!

Susie · #5 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 02:44 PM

Oooh, never heard of that one either. I love all these little snippets of history about plants, they are so interesting.

This is the one I have in the garden - I am sure it is nothing unusual.

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 04:04 PM

They look like leaves of an Epimedium species which is in the Berberis family, have pretty flowers- some species are yellow.

Said I hadn't heard of Bridewort but was having a shower (not a pretty sight!) when a spontaneous flash came to be - I had heard of Bride- or Bridalwort + it was English name given to shrub genus Spiraea. It's one of those genera that gardeners tend to use the botanic rather than the more obscure English name; but that's not what you have in photo.

Susie · #7 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 04:16 PM

Aha! I think you are on to something there. I remember "medium" being part of the latin name, Epimedium would fit the bill so I expect it is part of that family. Maybe a type that doesn't have flowers, hence the "blind"?