Queen of the Meadow

Filipendula ulmaria (spirea ulmaria)

Rosaceae - Rose Family

Common names: Meadowsweet, Meadsweet, Bridewort, Lady of the Meadow

Queen of the Meadow - What a delightful flower! If we were describing a girl, we would say she was both pretty and smart, and oh so generous.

She seems small, perhaps only 3-4 feet tall, topped with her beautiful and fragrant golden inflorescence. She is dressed in two-toned green foliage - leaves of dark green on top and lighter, even whitish underneath. The alternate leaves are deeply veined and toothed from the middle to the tip. A nice touch is added with pairs of small leaflets separating pairs of larger ones.

As for her intelligence, her pain relieving secrets were locked inside her flowerhead. In ancient times, herbalists were aware of her abilities and depended on her to restore people to health. After drinking an infusion made from her flowers, they would begin to feel better as headaches, colds, fevers, fluid retention, and simple stomach problems were relieved.

In 1839, scientists unlocked some of her secrets. They found that in both her flowers and her leaves were substantial quantities of salicylic acid. We are indebted to this Queen of the Meadow for her powers and her generosity. From this substance, aspirin (acetysiclic acid) was synthesized and considered a boon to modern man, except for those who are allergic to it.

In addition, this plant, according to the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, edited by Sarah Bunney, contains "the glyosides gaultherin and spiraein, traces of an alkaloid (heliotropine), tannins, a yellow pigment, vanillin, and free salicylic acid by the splitting of gaultherin and citric acid." These constituents enable this plant to act as an antiheumatic, diaphoretic, and diuretic.

If you want to see this lovely Lady of the Meadow, also called Meadowsweet, look for her in meadows, moist banks, or at the edge of damp woods between June and September. At that time, she stands erect with her 5-petaled creamy-white flowers in blossom. Notice that the stignes often protrude above the petals. Another identifying feature is that the flowers and the leaves have different scents. The flowers have an aroma of almond while the leaves have a whiff of wintergreen.

And what will you do when you find her? Why not pick the fresh flowers for bouquets to use in your home or dry the flowers and leaves for potpourris or sachets which would make fragrant gifts. Why should we not continue the lovely traditions of past centuries? As Gerard wrote:

"The leaves and floures of Meadowsweet farre excelle all other strowing herbs for to decke up houses, to strawe in chambers, halls and banqueting - houses in the summer-time, for the smell thereof makes the heart merrier and joyful and delighteth the senses."