Please help

[Les Marshall]

Cananyone identify this plant? Is it of any use bushcraft wise?

 

[scanker]

Sorry, no. But I can fix your image.

 

[Les Marshall]

Thanks mate, new to this upload lark, managed to figure out how to use photobucket, thanks for your help any way :You_Rock_

 

[typha]

Might be wood sage but I am not sure.Is the stem square?

 

[Les Marshall]

No, the stems are round with tiny hairs and when crushed, the aroma reminds me of superglue!

 

[typha]

I didn't think it was wood sage , although the leaves are similar .
Wood sage has a square stem and they lack the pinkish red colouration on the stem.I have a couple of things in mind it could be but I will have to check some books.

 

[familne]

Any more info e.g. is it a wild plant/Garden plant? Where did you find it?

 

[Les Marshall]

Found it in KingleyVale, West Sussex. My local nature reserve, although I have found it growing all over the downs. It's a low lieing plant that reminds me of mint, but of course it's not mint. It seems to like open grassland that has chalk bedrock.

 

[Mantic]

It has characteristics of the Primula family and red dead nettle, even ground ivy...

Perhaps it's a mutation, like in X-Men?

 

[tomtom]

where was it growing?

 

[Les Marshall]

Growing in open area of woodland on calcerous downland.

 

[familne]

The stems are definately round? The bit of stem I can see at the bottom of the photo looks kind of square in section - it certainly looks like a member of the Labiatae family. I would suggest a woundwort (Stachys) or possibly horehound (Ballota) both of which have an unpleasant smell!

 

[Les Marshall]

I'll have to go and get another picky of the plant as I'm doubting myself re the stem. Hopefully will have new picky by end of week providing SWMBO has no jobs for me

 

[typha]

I agree with familne about the stem looking square at the bottom of the photograph and I also agree that it looks like a member of the labiatae family.From the description of the habitat and your location I think it could possibly be meadow clary. I have never seen meadow clary other than in books as it is not found in Scotland so it's a bit of a shot in the dark.I could be setting myself up for trouble with people who actually know meadow clary (salvia pratensis).

 

[Les Marshall]

I managed to get two days in at Kingleyvale and found the exact plant I photographed (this is the bit where I eat humble Pie) the stem is square! , but looks as though you guys have doneit again! Cheers!

 

[Keith_Beef]

So which is it? Meadow clary, woundwort or horehound? And what can you do with it?


K.

 

[typha]

Les, Did you manage to find out what this mystery plant is? it should be a bit more developed now.