Trees from
"A Modern Herbal"
Mrs. M. Grieve, Edited by Mrs. C.F. Leyel
(Published by
Jonathan Cape in 1931)
All the tree-links below
lead to information from one of the most impressive British Herbals ever written.
Published over 70 years ago and some of it written much earlier
than that, it is inevitable that some of the information is dated
by now. Nevertheless, it is
still my all-time favourite herbal. My own beloved printed copy of
more than 900 closely printed pages has completely fallen apart
with use.
A Modern Herbal was such a work of scholarship, learning and
practical knowledge, that ever since, virtually all herbals
produced, rely heavily on it and often regurgitate its knowledge
in various (updated?) forms.
A Modern Herbal was
conceived by its editor Mrs. Hilda Leyel and based on monograms of
English herbs written by Mrs. Grieve.
Mrs. Maud Grieve was a fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society
and she had what sounds like a magnificent herb garden at her home in
Chalfont St. Peter. We know that she was active during the First
World War by training people in the harvesting, drying and
preparation of medicinal herbs, to help remedy the shortage of
medicinal supplies.
Mrs. Leyel added
American herbs to Mrs. Grieve's monograms and checked and edited
the whole work. Hilda Leyel was the founder of the Society of
Herbalists and for many years its Director. She was instrumental in
the re-establishment of herbal medicine in Britain in the 1900's.
She was also a practicing herbalist herself and is fondly
remembered with tales of her knowledge and eccentricities in
herbalist circles..
I've made entries
about trees from "A Modern Herbal" available here as a
very interesting historical addition to our Tree
Gallery (and the much longer essays on individual trees featured
in our British Trees section.
Read Mrs. Leyel's introduction to A Modern Herbal
The Modern Herbal uses
weights and measurements, which may not be familiar to everyone.
Check out our Weights and
Measurements page if have any difficulties.
Elder
- Sambucus nigra (LINN.)
Elm, Common
- Ulmus campestris (LINN.)
Eucalyptus
- Eucalyptus globulus (LABILLE.)
False Acacia - Robinia pseudacacia
Fig, Common
- Ficus Carica (LINN.)
Gorse,
Golden - Ulex Europaeus (LINN.)
Guelder
Rose - Viburnum opulus (LINN.)
Hawthorn
- Crataegus oxyacantha (LINN.)
Holly
- Ilex aquifolium (LINN.)
Honey
Locust - Gleditschia triacanthos (LINN.)
Horse
Chestnut - Æsculus hippocastanum
Juniper
Berries - Juniperus communis (LINN.)
Laburnum
- Cytisus Laburnam (LINN.)
Larch
- Pinus larix (D.C.)
Laurel,
Cherry - Prunus Laurocerasus (LINN.)
Lilacs,
(White and Mauve) - Syringa vulgaris
Lime
Tree - Tilia Europoea (LINN.)
Magnolia
- Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia virginiana (LINN.)
Maples
Mulberry, Common
- Morus nigra (LINN.)
Osier, Red American (Swamp's Dogwood) - Cornus sericea (LINN.)
Oak
- Quercus robur
Pine
- Various species
Prunes
(Plum tree) - Prunus domestica (LINN.)
Quince
- Pyrus Cydonia (LINN.)
Rowan
(Mountain Ash - Sorbus Aucuparia (LINN.)
Spindle
Tree - Euonymus atropurpureus, Euonymus Europaeus (JACQ.)
Sumachs
Strawberry
Tree - Arbutus unede
Sweet
Chestnut - Castanea vesca (GÆRTN.)
Storax
- Liquidambar orientalis (MILL.)
Sycamore
(Great Maple) - Acer pseudoplatanus
Thuja
(Yellow cedar) - Thuja occidentalis (LINN.)
Tree
of Heaven - Ailanthus glandulosa (DESF.)
Walnut
(Black) - Juglans nigra (LINN.)
Wilow
(White) - Salix alba (LINN.)
Witch
Hazel - Hamamelis Virginiana (LINN)
Yew
- Taxus Baccata
Reprinted from "A
Modern Herbal" (1931)
Mrs. M. Grieve, Edited by Mrs. C.F. Leyel
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