Herb: Hairy Rupture Wort


Latin name: Herniaria hirsuta


Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family, Starwort Family)



Medicinal use of Hairy Rupture Wort:

The plant is diuretic. It is used in the treatment of sore throats. The plant contains coumarins and saponins, which are toxic, and so it should be used with some caution.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Annual/Perennial


Height:
2 cm
(0.8 inch)

Flowering:
July to
August

Habitat of the herb:

Sandy ground.

Other uses of Hairy Rupture Wort:

A good ground cover plant, allowing spring bulbs to grow through it. An aqueous extract of the plant is a hand cleanser, making the skin soft and supple.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation of Hairy Rupture Wort:

Sandy ground.

Known hazards of Herniaria hirsuta:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.