Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s mantle)

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Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm.

Lady’s mantle

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Rosaceae	Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus	Alchemilla	Takes its name from some plant valued for its use in alchemy
Species	mollis	Smooth, or with soft velvety hair

About plant names...

Lady's mantle, named after the Virgin Mary's cloak because of its scalloped leaves, originates in the eastern Carpathian Mountains in eastern Europe. Plants are low, less than 1½′ (45 cm) in height, with a width of 1½-2½′ (45-76 cm). It is often used as a ground cover.

Raindrops ball up on the velvety leaves. The name of this genus, Alchemilla, derives from the alchemists' belief that the mercury-like balls of water on these leaves was the purest form of water. They used this water in their attempts to turn base metals into gold.

Identification: This plant forms small mounds of scallop-edged slightly bluish leaves, with 9-11 rounded lobes edged with small sharp teeth. (The leaves look a bit like hardy geraniums.) The blooms are small and chartreuse in color. Depending upon who you ask, Alchemilla vulgaris is either a closely similar species, or the same plant.

Edibility: Cattle and sheep relish this plant, and the leaves and root are said to be edible to people as well.

Online References:

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Wikipedia

Wikimedia Commons

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

6/26/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Alchemilla mollis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

6/26/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

4/24/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts

8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (66 × 44 cm)

5/17/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts

6/26/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Range: Zones 3a-8b:

About this map...