yellow avens

Geum aleppicum

characteristics

Perennial with stout very hairy stems, widely branching stalks, and three-part, toothed leaves. A single, very small buttercup-like, five-parted yellow flower blooms at the end of each branch. Petals are very shiny. Seedheads are spherical with numerous pistils and stamens become bur-like at maturity. Spreads readily.

A member of the rose family.

Starts from seed, bare root.

habitat

Forests, meadows, swamps.

uses

The Woods Cree Nihithawak of eastern Saskatchewan used the powdered root for various ailments including teething.