Scarlet Pimpernel
Anagallis arvensis
Family: Primulaceae
What it is like
A low-growing annual plant. Once highly regarded as a medicinal herb but now questioned due to it's toxicity. The whole herb is antitussive, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant and vulnerary.
Anagallis arvensis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 0.1
Where it is found
Roadsides and cultivated land, preferring rather sandy soils.
Throughout most of the world, including Britain, but absent from the Tropics.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Leaves - raw or cooked. Used in salads and as a spinach. The tender shoots are cooked as a vegetable. It is best not to eat these leaves, see the notes above on toxicity.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The scarlet pimpernel was at one time highly regarded as a medicinal herb, especially in the treatment of epilepsy and mental problems, but there is little evidence to support its efficacy and it is no longer recommended for internal use because it contains toxic saponins and cytotoxic cucurbitacins. The whole herb is antitussive, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant and vulnerary. It can be taken internally or applied externally as a poultice. An infusion is used in the treatment of dropsy, skin infections and disorders of the liver and gall bladder. The plant is best harvested in June and can be dried for later use. Use with caution, large doses can cause polyuria and tremor. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used internally to treat itchy skins and externally to remove warts.
Antidepressant: Used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder.
Antipruritic: Treats itching of the skin.
Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.
Antiviral: Treats virus diseases
Cholagogue: Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Epilepsy: Used in the treatment of Epilepsy - a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Homeopathy: A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
Nervine: Stimulates and calms the nerves.
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
Other
Rating: 3
The squeezed plant is used in Nepal for washing and bathing. Anagallis arvensis is insecticidal or at least is repellent to some insects. Dynamic accumulator.
Soap: Plants used directly as a soap substitute.
Dynamic accumulator: Plants that gather minerals or nutrients from the soil and store them in a more bioavailable form and in high concentration in their tissues. Used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.
How it is grown
Prefers a sunny position and a good soil. Succeeds in dry or sandy soils. The flowers open at about 8 am and close at 3pm each day, though they close earlier if it rains. The flowers are also said to foretell wet weather if they close early.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 6-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
The seeds are slightly poisonous to some mammals, but no cases involving people are known. Skin contact with the plant can cause dermatitis in some people.
Weedy in some areas of the US including Kentucky and the Northeast.
Its other names
Local names
Common Names include: blue pimpernel; care-all; common pimpernel; poor man's weatherglass; red chickweed. Spanish: coralillo; jaboncillo; murrajes; pilpis; pimpinela escarlata. French: morgeline; morgeline d'ete; mouron des champs; mouron rouge. Arabic: 'ayen el jamel. Portuguese: escarlate; morriao vermelho; murriao. Algeria: lizireg; meridjana. Brazil: escalarte. Chile: pimpinela azul. Croatia: krika poljska. Czechoslovakia (former): drchnicka roini. Denmark: rod arve. Egypt: 'ain el-gamal; omm lebben; qonfooda; saboon gheit. Finland: puna alpi. Germany: Acker Gauchheil; Feld Gauchheil; Roter Gauchheil. Hawaii: poisonous pimpernel. Hungary: mezel tikszem. India: biliputi (Punjabi); krishnaneel. Iran: bazrak vahshee. Iraq: rmaimeeneh. Italy: anagallide rossa; bellichina; mordi-gallina. Japan: akabana aruri hakobe. Lebanon: adhan el far el nabti; lubbayn; zaghila. Macedonia: vidovcica crvena. Mauritius: mouron. Netherlands: gewoon guichelheil; guichelheil. Norway: nonsblom; rodarve. Pakistan: bili booti. Poland: kurzyslad polny. Slovenia: njivna kurja cesnjica. South Africa: blouseblommetjie; rooimuur. Sweden: rodarv; roedarv. Taiwan: hwo-jin-gu. Turkey: tarla farekulagi. USA: poison chickweed; poisonweed; shepherd's clock; wink-a-peep Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro): vidovcia.