Cinquefoil
Potentilla simplex
Other Names:
Five Fingers, Five-Finger Blossom, Five-finger grass, Sunkfield,
Synkefoyle, Common Cinquefoil, Creeping Cinquefoil, Oldfield Cinquefoil Habitat
Cinquefoil is a perennial herb native to Eastern and
Central N. America from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, Alabama, Minnesota and
Missouri. Found growing in dry open woods, prairie hillsides, roadsides, old fields
and waste places. Cultivation: Cinquefoil is easily grown, prefers full sun but
tolerating shade, in any moderately good well-drained soil. Sow seed early spring or
autumn. The roots are long, slender rhizomes branched at the top from several
crowns, from which arise the long-stalked leaves and solitary, yellow flowers that
close up at night, and threadlike, creeping stems. The stem-runners root at
intervals and often attain a length of 5 feet or more, spreading over a wide area.
The name Five-leaf or Five Fingers refers to the leaves being divided into five
leaflets. Each of these is about 1 1/2 inch long, with scattered hairs on the veins
and margin. The margins of the leaflets serrated. In rich soils the leaflets are
often six or seven. Flowers bloom in late May thru August. Harvest edible young
shoots and leaves before flowers bloom. Gather entire plant, in bloom, dry for later
herb use. |
 Photo (Above) by Karen Bergeron
Copyright 2000
|
Properties
Cinquefoil is edible and medicinal,
young shoots and leaves are edible in salad or cooked as a pot herb. The plant
contains large amounts of tannins making it very astringent. A medicinal infusion
made from the root is used in alternative medicine as an astringent, antiseptic, and
tonic, used as a mouthwash for "thrash" and taken for dysentery and diarrhoea. A
medicinal tonic is used for fevers and debility. A decoction is odontalgic, used as
a gargle for loose teeth, spongy gums and, periodotal disease. Fresh juice mixed
with honey removes hoarseness and relaxes sore throat, is very medicinal for coughs.
A strong decoction is poured over infections, sores, rashes and as a bath
additive it is soothing for reddened or irritated skin. An infusion of the leaves
makes an excellent skin cleansing lotion and is also used cosmetically as a soothing
lotion for reddened skin and for babies delicate skin. Powdered or crushed root
stops bleeding. The plant is an ingredient in many anti-wrinkle cosmetic
preparations for the skin.Folklore
It was an ingredient in many spells in
the Middle Ages, and was particularly used as a magic herb in love potions. In an
old recipe called 'Witches' Ointment' the juice of Five-leaf Grass, smallage and
wolfsbane is mixed with the fat of children dug up from their graves and added to
fine wheat flour.
Recipes
A medicinal infusion of 1 oz. of the
herb to a pint of boiling water. Take 1 cup a day.
Decoction, 1 1/2 oz. of the root, boiled
in a quart of water down to a pint.
Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron
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