Lysimachia nummularia

Lysimachia nummularia
"Moneywort" redirects here. Bacopa monnieri (Coastal Waterhyssop) is also sometimes known by that name.
Lysimachia nummularia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Myrsinaceae
Genus: Lysimachia
Species: L. nummularia
Binomial name
Lysimachia nummularia
L.

Lysimachia nummularia (syn. Lysimachia zawadzkii Wiesner) is a low, creeping plant of the genus Lysimachia. It is commonly called Creeping Jenny, Moneywort, Herb Twopence and Twopenny grass.[1]

Contents

Distribution

It is native to Europe, but has been introduced to North America, where it is considered an invasive species in some areas. It aggressively spreads in favorable conditions, such as low wet ground or near ponds, but is usually easily removed by hand pulling. It is available for planting in North America as a horticultural item, and is usually offered as an accent plant, but must be used with care because it can spread rapidly and crowd out other plants. It makes a nice ground cover where the range of its growth can be limited, producing yellow flowers in early summer. The plant is cold hardy in the continental United States and much of Europe, surviving lows of -40 degrees F.

Characteristics

The cultivar 'Aurea' (golden creeping Jenny) has yellow leaves, and is somewhat less aggressive than the species.

Traditional uses

Moneywort is used in herbalism for healing wounds.[citation needed] The plant contains a number of phenolic acids.[2] In traditional Chinese Medicine, Lysimachia (whole plant) is used to treat stone lin syndrome, which encompases gall stones and urinary bladder stones.[citation needed] Some practitioners are using this herb to battle painful gout symptoms.[citation needed]

Gallery

  • Form

  • Details of flowers

References

  1. ^ Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
  2. ^ Luczak, S; Swiatek, L; Daniewski, M (1989). "Phenolic acids in herbs Lysimachia nummularia L. And L. Vulgaris L". Acta poloniae pharmaceutica 46 (4): 381–5. PMID 2635807. 

External links


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