Łódź, Botanical Garden

It is a native from southern Switzerland southward around much of the Mediterranean basin, from Portugal to Turkey, and across much of north Africa; it has been introduced in the United States as a medicinal herb and as an ornamental ground cover. Ornamental plant. Herbal plant - the plant is sedative and tonic, it contains the alkaloid 'vincamine', which is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a cerebral stimulant and vasodilator; the leaves are bitter, detergent and stomachic, taken internally, they are used in the treatment of internal bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding and nosebleeds; crushed and applied to wounds, the leaves have astringent and healing properties; roots are antispasmodic and hypotensive, used to lower the blood pressure; the fresh flowers are gently purgative, but lose their effect on drying. Useful plant - a very good ground cover for covering steep banks and shady places.