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Least Lady's-mantle

Alchemilla minima

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae (Rose)
Also in this family:
Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Service Tree, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cheddar Whitebeam, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Lady's-mantle, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairless Lady's-mantle, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Slender-spined Bramble, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
10 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Gardens, grassland, mountains, rocky places.

Flower:
֍
Green, no petals
 
An early-flowering species of Lady's-mantle with clusters of small yellowish-green flowers.
Fruit:
Small and insignificant.
Leaves:
A dwarf perennial plant with just 5 leaf-lobes. The leaves are roundish and toothed.
Other Names:
Dwarf Lady's-mantle.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen  

Similar Species

Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle

Broadtooth Lady's-mantle

Hairy Lady's-mantle

Southern Lady's-mantle

Other Information

Summary

Alchemilla minima, also known as dwarf lady's mantle, is a small perennial herb in the rose family. It is native to the mountains of Europe, and it is known for its small, deeply lobed leaves that are typically arranged in a rosette at the base of the plant. The plant produces small, yellow flowers in the summer. It is not commonly used as an ornamental plant in gardens, but it can be used medicinally. It prefers cool and moist, well-drained soils and partial shade. It is a good option for rock gardens, alpine gardens and front of the border.

Blog

If you're a fan of wildflowers, you might be interested in learning about the Least Lady's-mantle, or Alchemilla minima. This small plant is a member of the Rosaceae family and is native to Europe and parts of Asia. Here's everything you need to know about this charming wildflower.

Appearance

The Least Lady's-mantle is a small, low-growing plant that typically only reaches a height of about 10cm. It has a rosette of rounded leaves that are lobed and slightly hairy. The leaves are a bright green color and have a distinctive shape that looks like a fan or an open hand. In the summer, the plant produces tiny, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers that are arranged in clusters.

Habitat

The Least Lady's-mantle is a hardy plant that can grow in a wide range of habitats, including grassy meadows, open woodlands, and rocky outcrops. It prefers well-draining soil and is often found in areas with a high altitude, such as mountain slopes and alpine meadows.

Uses

Traditionally, the leaves of the Least Lady's-mantle have been used in herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and fever. The plant contains tannins, which are thought to have astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it's important to note that the efficacy of these treatments has not been scientifically proven, and it's always best to consult with a healthcare professional before using any herbal remedies.

Conservation Status

The Least Lady's-mantle is not considered to be a threatened species, but it is classified as a "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, like many wildflowers, the plant is vulnerable to habitat destruction and fragmentation due to human activities such as agriculture and urbanization. Additionally, the Least Lady's-mantle is sometimes harvested for its medicinal properties, which can further impact wild populations.

The Least Lady's-mantle may be small, but it's a fascinating and important wildflower that is worth learning about. From its distinctive fan-shaped leaves to its traditional medicinal uses, this plant has a lot to offer. If you're lucky enough to come across the Least Lady's-mantle in the wild, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and learn more about the vital role that wildflowers play in our ecosystem.

Some Facts

Here are a few more interesting facts about the Least Lady's-mantle:

  1. The name "Alchemilla" comes from the Arabic word "alkemelych", which means "alchemy". This is because the plant was once believed to have mystical healing powers and was used by alchemists in their experiments.

  2. In addition to its medicinal uses, the Least Lady's-mantle has been used in traditional dyeing and tanning processes. The leaves contain a high concentration of tannins, which can be used to create a yellow or green dye.

  3. The Least Lady's-mantle is known for its ability to collect and hold droplets of water on its leaves. This has led to the plant being used in the past as a symbol of the Virgin Mary, as the droplets were said to represent her tears.

  4. The Least Lady's-mantle is often used as a garden plant due to its attractive leaves and low-maintenance nature. It can be grown in a variety of soil types and is especially well-suited to rock gardens and alpine landscapes.

  5. Like other members of the Rosaceae family, the Least Lady's-mantle can hybridize with other related species. This has led to the development of several hybrid cultivars that are popular in the horticultural trade.

Overall, the Least Lady's-mantle is a fascinating and versatile plant that deserves more attention. Whether you're interested in its medicinal properties, its use in traditional crafts, or simply its beauty in the wild, there's something for everyone to appreciate about this charming little wildflower.

And Finally...

In summary, the Least Lady's-mantle is a small but fascinating wildflower with a rich history and a variety of uses. From its medicinal properties to its role in traditional crafts and its popularity as a garden plant, this little plant has a lot to offer. While it's not considered a threatened species, it's important to be mindful of human activities that could impact its habitat and populations. If you're interested in wildflowers or herbal medicine, the Least Lady's-mantle is definitely a plant to keep on your radar.

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map