Lady’s Mantle: Alchemilla mollis – garden species / Alchemilla vulgaris – wild species
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) is a familiar native wildflower, found not only in the UK but also throughout temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It thrives in poor soils, in sunshine or partial shade, along roadsides, in rocky terrain, and on chalky downs. Its distinctive frothy profusion of acid-yellow flowers provides food for pollinators, and its soft leaves collect – and even produce – drops of water. Indeed, this characteristic lies behind the name of the genus: Alchemilla has the same derivation as ‘alchemy’, and refers to the apparently magical way in which water droplets are held in the leaves. See below for more about this ‘magic’.*
Alchemilla is one of ninety genera in the vast Rosaceae plant family of flowers, shrubs and trees.
The Alchemilla genus has a large number of species within it; and “Lady’s Mantle” is the familiar name given to many of these.
One of these is Alchemilla mollis, pictured above, a popular garden plant in the UK. It has escaped “over the garden wall” and become widely naturalised, so many people think of it as the ‘wild’ version. It produces large leaves and large, acid-yellow flower heads; while its wild cousin’s flowers are much smaller and of a greener hue. Both versions have a low-growing habit: in the garden this trait can suppress the growth of unwanted “weeds”. Alchemilla mollis is resistant to most pests; and it softens hard landscaping, draping gracefully over the edges of borders. It is a delightful addition to cottage gardens, alpine or rock garden, and is tolerated in our Physic Garden as useful ground cover despite having no medicinal properties.
Alchemilla vulgaris, (left), however, has been long associated with women’s health.
Its most familiar common name is believed to refer to the shape of its leaves: their soft, scalloped form was thought to resemble a cloak, or mantle.
The Virgin Mary (Our Lady) was commonly portrayed wearing a cloak, and her protection was sought in pregnancy.
*The ‘Magic’ Water of Alchemilla
Most plants get rid of excessive water, taken up by their roots, by evaporation through tiny holes, stomata, in their leaves. In periods of high humidity, when this natural evaporation is insufficient, some plants exude actual liquid through the leaf-pores. 
This process is known as ‘guttation’ ; and it is found in many herbaceous plants. It can be seen on grasses: each blade may hold a tiny drop at its tip, often mistaken for dew. It’s also seen in indoor plants such as Philodendron and ‘cheese plant’(Monstera).
Droplets often form along the edges of leaves. In Alchemilla species they run down the ridges to collect in the leaf’s ‘cup’.
In sunlight they sparkle, jewel-like, suggestive of magical properties to the medieval mind!
Medicinal Uses
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)) – the plant itself, rather than the water droplets – was traditionally used throughout Europe and beyond for women’s health. It was prescribed both to stimulate and regulate menstruation; and to relieve menstrual cramps. It was also said to reduce hot flushes and other symptoms of menopause.
The herb was also prescribed to promote good digestive health; and for skin conditions, by cleansing and healing wounds and swellings.
Today we recognise that chemical compounds in Lady’s Mantle give it a number of medicinal properties. It contains salicylic acid and quercetin, making it:
– astringent;
– analgesic;
– anti-inflammatory;
– anti-spasmodic;
– supportive of digestive health.
In addition, it is rich in tannins, which are anti-haemorrhagic, useful in stemming excessive bleeding; and it contains steroids that encourage the production of progesterone, reducing hormonal imbalance.
In 2022 researchers in Serbia, aware of the long history of Lady’s Mantle in reproductive medicine in Eastern Europe, considered that the biological properties of the plant had been neglected by modern science. They set up a laboratory study into the action of extracts of wild Lady’s Mantle on tumour prevention and suppression in vitro. They concluded: “The results of this study strongly support the historically collected data about the healing potential of Alchemilla vulgaris”.
Other uses
Popular with flower-arrangers, it is an excellent cut flower companion, traditionally combined with roses and sweet peas.
Lady’s mantle can be used as a natural dye for textiles such as wool or silk, using leaves and / or flowers.
It produces shades from palest yellow, through mustard, to olive green and dark brown.
The whole plant is edible, with a slightly bitter edge; but the young leaves are regarded as the most useful.
Freshly picked, they can be added to salads or used in making pesto. The flowers, on the other hand, are best used for tisanes, i.e. herbal teas.
Lady’s Mantle is an ingredient made in the production of herbal sweets by the Swiss company Ricola.
Myth and Magic
The word Alchemilla derives from the Arabic Alkemelych (alchemy). This was the scientific study of transmutation: the transformation of materials into other materials. It reached Europe in the 12thcentury, and peaked around the 16th. Alchemy was by no means a ‘fringe’ obsession: many serious scientists devoted much time and effort to it. Even Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton, who are among the so-called ‘fathers of modern science’, studied alchemy.
In medieval times, the conspicuous water droplets held in the leaves of Alchemilla were believed to hold magical properties: it was sometimes called Celestial Fire. It was considered to be pure of all contamination, as is gold; and it was an ingredient in alchemical attempts to turn base metal into gold.
Originally, the plant was known as Our Lady’s Mantle, linked to the Roman Catholic veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus. After the Reformation, this connection was reduced by the simple removal of the first word. Hence, it is now properly called Lady’s Mantle, and not “Ladies’ Mantle”.
The name is pervasive across Europe: in Italian Madonna Mantello and in GermanFrauenmantel. That common name, in its German form, is said to have been first recorded in a History of Plants by Tragus (a German scientist, Jerome Block) published in 1532.
The French, however, call it Pied-de-Lion (Lion’s Foot) a name also used in English, as is Bear’s Foot. These refer to its growing habit: a soft mound looking (a little) like a large hairy foot. Nine Hooks is also mentioned as a common name – but why? Yours to discover!
Acknowledgments – thanks to the following for much of this information
www.naturescape.co.uk
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.rhs.org.uk
https://seagreenandsapphire.wordpress.com
https://www.thegrizzlyforager.co.uk
https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com
www.indigo-herbs.co.uk
www.gold-traders.co.uk
www.botanical.com
www.first-nature.com
https://btweenblinks.wordpress.com image of guttation drops on leaf
