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Lady's Mantle
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Taken at Hogganfield Loch on 22nd June 2022 using Panasonic Lumix TZ70 in macro mode.
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| Taken at Baron's Haugh on 12th May 2020 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 105 mm macro lens. | |
| Lady's Mantle. |
| Species: Order: Family: Habit: AKA: |
Alchemilla mollis. Rosales. Rosaceae. Herbaceous Perennial . |
| Height: Feature: |
30 - 40 cms tall. According to some accounts, Lady's Mantle has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy. According to other authorities it has never been used medicinally, but has been confused with two species that have a history of medicinal use: A. alpina (Alpine lady's mantle) and A. xanthoclora. The plant is often grown as a ground cover, and is especially valued for the leaves in wet weather, as the water forms beads and sparkles on the leaves. This is due to the remarkable dewetting properties of the leaves, whereby the contact force between the water and the leaf is so disfavoured that a thin layer of air penetrates the solid-liquid interface. These beads of water were considered by alchemists to be the purest form of water. They utilised this water in their quest to turn base metal into gold. Hence the name Alchemilla. |