Scarlet pimpernel, Shepherd's weather glass
Lysimachia arvensis

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 20 cm high. The stems branch from the base and can be creeping. It has a square stem. This can be 40 cm long. It has very small scattered hairs. The leaves do not have leaf stalks. They are produced opposite one another. Leaves are 1.5-2.5 cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm wide. They are oval and have a shiny upper surface. The flowers occur singly. They grow in the axils of leaves and they are blue or orange. The flowers close at the approach of bad weather. The fruit is a round capsule.

There are 20-28 Anagallis species. This one is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows up to about 2000 m altitude. It is self sown in moist places. It is common on waste land, hillsides and coastal sands in Europe. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Britain (country/location of origin), Central Asia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Norfolk Island, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, SE Asia, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young tender shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in salads. CAUTION: Toxic oils and a toxic glycoside have been isolated from these plants.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Anagallide, Armale, Ayn al got, Cat's eye, Dhabbar, Fare kulagi, Hierba de pollo, Hnget-ma-no-khin-sa, Jabonera, Jonkmari, Morgellina, Poor Man's weatherglass, Shepherd's clock

Synonyms

Anagallis parviflora; Anagallis phoenicea,; Anagallis platyphylla; Lysimachia arvensis