Sanguisorba
Encyclopedia
Sanguisorba is a genus of perennial herbs or small shrubs in the family Rosaceae
, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
. The common name is Burnet. The stems grow to 50-200 cm tall, with a cluster of basal leaves
, and further leaves arranged alternately up the stem. The leaves are pinnate, 5-30 cm long, with 7-25 leaflets, the leaflets with a serrated margin. Young leaves grow from the crown in the center of the plant. The flower
s are small, produced in dense clusters 5-20 mm long; each flower has four very small petals, white to red in colour.
Sanguisorba species are used as food plants by the larva
e of some Lepidoptera
species including Grizzled Skipper
and Mouse Moth
(both recorded on Sanguisorba minor).
, heat and cold well. The leaves contain Vitamin C
; those of S. minor have a mild, cucumber
-like taste, and are sometimes used in salad
s. A poultice
of its leaves will stop minor bleeding; some species were used for this in the Han Dynasty
period in China
.
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
. The common name is Burnet. The stems grow to 50-200 cm tall, with a cluster of basal leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, and further leaves arranged alternately up the stem. The leaves are pinnate, 5-30 cm long, with 7-25 leaflets, the leaflets with a serrated margin. Young leaves grow from the crown in the center of the plant. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are small, produced in dense clusters 5-20 mm long; each flower has four very small petals, white to red in colour.
Sanguisorba species are used as food plants by the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
species including Grizzled Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
The Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.-Appearance, behaviour and distribution:With its characteristic chequered black and white pattern this butterfly is quite distinctive although old, faded individuals can be mistaken for the Dingy Skipper or the Sideridis...
and Mouse Moth
Mouse Moth
The Mouse Moth is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a very widespread species with a Holarctic distribution.This is a rather drab but distinctive species. The forewings are uniform dark brown with three blackish spots arranged in a triangle. The hindwings are buffish, darker towards the...
(both recorded on Sanguisorba minor).
Species
- Sanguisorba albanica
- Sanguisorba alpina
- Sanguisorba ancistroides
- Sanguisorba annuaSanguisorba annuaSanguisorba annua is a species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common names annual burnet and prairie burnet. It is native to North America, including many areas in western and central Canada and the United States. It can be found in several types of habitat, including grassland,...
- Sanguisorba applanata
- Sanguisorba armena
- Sanguisorba canadensisSanguisorba canadensisSanguisorba canadensis, or Canadian burnet, is a perennial in the family Rosaceae native to North America, commonly growing in bogs, swamps, and roadsides from Labrador to Georgia. It grows 4–5 ft. tall, with creamy white flowers that grow in cylindrical spikes...
- Canadian Burnet - Sanguisorba caucasica
- Sanguisorba cretica
- Sanguisorba diandra
- Sanguisorba dodecandra - Italian Burnet
- Sanguisorba filiformis
- Sanguisorba hakusanensis - Hakusan Burnet
- Sanguisorba hybrida
- Sanguisorba magnifica
- Sanguisorba menendezii - Canary Islands Burnet
- Sanguisorba menziesii
- Sanguisorba minor - Salad Burnet
- Sanguisorba obtusa - Japanese Burnet
- Sanguisorba officinalisSanguisorba officinalisSanguisorba officinalis is a plant in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae. It is native throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America....
- Great Burnet - Sanguisorba stipulata
- Sanguisorba tenuifolia - Asian Burnet
Cultivation and uses
Burnet tolerates droughtDrought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, heat and cold well. The leaves contain Vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
; those of S. minor have a mild, cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
-like taste, and are sometimes used in salad
Salad
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes, including vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, eggs, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They may include a mixture of cold and hot, often including raw vegetables or fruits.Green salads include leaf...
s. A poultice
Poultice
A poultice, also called cataplasm, is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body. It can be used on wounds such as cuts...
of its leaves will stop minor bleeding; some species were used for this in the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.