Gänsefingerkraut

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in almost any soil, thriving in moist clays, though rather dwarfed in dry dusty soils. It grows best in a well-drained loam, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating shade. Prefers an alkaline soil but tolerates a slightly acid soil. Silverweed was formerly cultivated for its edible root. It is still possibly cultivated in parts of Scotland (1992). This plant spreads vigorously by its running roots and can be very invasive. It grows well in a meadow, or places where the grass is only cut occasionally[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2]. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground [1-2].

Root - raw or cooked. It can also be dried and ground into a powder then used in soups etc or mixed with cereals. A nice taste, crisp and nutty with a somewhat starchy flavour. The roots are rather thin, though perhaps their size cold be improved in cultivation[K]. Edible young shoots - raw. A tea is made from the leaves.

A sprig placed in the shoe can help prevent blisters. An infusion of the leaves makes an excellent skin cleansing lotion, it is also used cosmetically as a soothing lotion for reddened skin and for the delicate skins of babies. All parts of the plant contain tannin, though the report does not give quantities. A dynamic accumulator gathering minerals or nutrients from the soil and storing them in a more bioavailable form - used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Alaska, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Finland, France, Føroyar, Germany, Great Britain, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mongolia, Montana, NW. Balkan Pen., Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Norway, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Dakota Eingeführt: Argentina Northeast, Argentina South, Chile Central, Falkland Is., New South Wales, Queensland