Łódź, Park Kilińskiego

It is native to the Balkan Peninsula in south-east Europe but has been widely planted in temperate areas from the 17th century onwards. Edible plant - seed cooked; they can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a gruel. Herbal plant - astringent, anti-inflammatory herb that helps to tone the vein walls which, when slack or distended, may become varicose, haemorrhoidal or otherwise problematic; also reduces fluid retention by increasing the permeability of the capillaries and allowing the re-absorption of excess fluid back into the circulatory system.