Marsh Woundwort
Stachys palustris
Family: Lamiaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has robust underground stems. The above ground stems are branched. They are 60-110 cm high. The stalks of the stem leaves are 2-3 mm long. The leaf blade is oblong to sword shaped and 3-8 cm long by 1.2-1.5 cm wide. They are hairy. There are 6 flowers in rings and they are purple or red. The nutlets are brown and 3 sided.
There are about 300 Stachys species. It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
It is a cool temperate plant. They grow in marshy areas near lakes and streams. They grow up to 500 m in north China. It can grow in water 8 cm deep. It suits hardiness zone 3. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Armenia, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Europe, Hungary, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Middle East, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA
How it is used for food
The tuber is ground into flour. This is used for bread. The tubers can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. Young shoots are cooked and eaten like asparagus.
Edible parts
Leaves, root, seeds, tubers, shoots
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. Plants can also be grown by dividing mature plants.
Its other names
Local names
Abeghakhot, Marsh Woodwort, Marsh betony, Močvirnati čišljak, Swamp hedge-nettle, Zhao sheng shui su