SELF-HEAL : Prunella vulgaris
Spelt with or without the hyphen.
[This can be confused with the red clover index.asp?pageid=732301 .]
This low grpwing plant may often be overlooked. it can be seen creeping through short grass where uncut; even in our lawns. Its clusters of violet flowers appear from June to October and provide a nectar source for bees and wasps.It is a perennial herb with paired, oval leaves and bluish or violet flowers that appear in dense, oblong clusters on the top of its stems. Its purple-tinged seed head remains after flowering. Unlike clover, this plant has leafs that appear up the stalks in pairs.
As its common name suggests, selfheal has a long tradition of being used in herbal medicine for everything from stopping bleeding and healing wounds, to treating heart disease and sore throats. [Wildlife Trusts]. The possible health benefits of this plant are attributed to several of its compounds. These include flavonoids, tannins, and ursolic, rosmarinic, and oleanolic acids, which may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [Healthline website].
Note how the flower grows in layers and how the leafs are in pairs up the stalk.
HEALTHLINE website : https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/prunella-vulgaris#what-it-is
WILDLIFE TRUSTS : https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/selfheal
