GEUM urbanum Herb Bennet, Wood Avens, Herb Benedict ____________________________________ Type: Perennial Height: 10-15" (25-40 cm) Flowering Time: Summer, Autumn Flower Colour: Yellow ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Rosidae (Rose Superorder) Order: Rosales (Rose Order) Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family) Genus: Geum (Avens) Species: urbanum (of towns) ____________________________________

Geum urbanum is another wildflower that is easily overlooked. It has large rough toothed basal leaves arising from an aromatic root, smelling and tasting of cloves, once thought to protect against evil and poisons. The flowers are yellow, with five rounded petals widely separated and showing the pointed calyx between them, borne singly on thin stems, and lasting only a short time before the flimsy petals fall. It grows in open woodland, hedges and roadsides.

Geum urbanum has been used as a medicinal plant since Roman times, as an antiseptic, to reduce fevers and inflammation, and to treat stomach and skin problems. The leaves can also be eaten in salads and soups.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Winter Outside (83 days)
Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are held together on a spiky seedhead. Seed The seed is a pointed woody oval with a woody tail. There are many seeds on the seedhead. Seedling The seedleaves are rounded. the first true leaves are lobed.