Common Lady's Mantle - Alchemilla vulgaris L. s.l. Rose family
(Rosaceae) Alchemilla vulgaris is a very diverse group of
species with small species that can only be distinguished with
difficulty, which is why suffix sl is used (sensu latiore = in
the broader sense). The Common Lady's Mantle is widespread
throughout the northern hemisphere and in Europe from the
Mediterranean to Iceland. It is a 30 to 50cm long half-rosette
herbaceous plant, the basal leaves are very characteristic with
their rounded, folded blade with 7-9 semicircular flaps. It is
reminiscent of a cape as worn by Mary in holy images and since
the plant was formerly used in gynaecology, it was named Lady's
Mantle. The yellow flowers are very small and are coiled in
richly flowering inflorescences. The genus name, Alchemilla (=
small alchemist, alchemist herb) probably comes from Arabic (al-
Kimiya = chemistry) and refers to the water droplets on the
leaf´s edge in the early morning emerging from so-called
hydathodes through a process of guttati