NEN Gallery

This pretty plant has pink flowers, creeping stems - rooting at the bases, blunt toothed leaves with sticky hairs and downy stalks. This plant grows in rough grassy places, particularly on chalk and limestone. Its alternative name, wild liquorice, comes from the edible roots. It was once used to treat kidney problems and gallstones. The crushed leaves give off an unpleasant smell and, if eaten by cattle, can taint milk. The plant got its name because, when horse-drawn ploughs were used, the deeped matted roots could stop the work. It flowers June to September. Picture taken 16th July 2006 at Old Warden, Bedfordshire.