Echtes Labkraut

Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade, but it tolerates a position in full sun. Plants are tolerant of dry soils, but do not thrive in a hot climate. They dislike very acid soils. A very invasive plant, though it is low-growing and mixes without harm with any plants at least 60cm tall[K]. It grows well in the summer meadow and is a food plant for the larvae of several species of butterflies.

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Coffee Colouring Curdling agent Drink Leaves - raw or cooked. A yellow dye from the flowering stems is used as a food colouring. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute. The seed is also said to be edible. The chopped up plant can be used as a rennet to coagulate plant milks. The flowering tops are distilled in water to make a refreshing acid beverage.

Dye Repellent Strewing Stuffing A red dye is obtained from the root. It is rather fiddly to utilize. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowering tops. The dye is obtained from the foliage when it is boiled with alum. The dried plant has the scent of newly mown hay, it was formerly used as a strewing herb and for stuffing mattresses etc. It is said to keep fleas away. A sprig in a shoe is said to prevent blisters.

Heimisch: Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Brunlanes, Brussels-Capital Region, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, Finland, Flanders, Flemish Region, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Netherlands, North America, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Ullensvang, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutiya Eingeführt: Argentina South, California, Colorado, Greenland, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin