Syn.: Spiraea ulmaria L., Ulmaria palustris Moench, Ulmaria obtusiloba Opiz
Family: Rosaceae Juss.
Distribution: Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Siberia, Altay, Mongolia, naturalized in Northern America.
Ecology: Grows in swamps, marches, fens, damp woods, from lowlands to foothills. Flowers from May to September.
Description: Perennial herb with erect, simple or branched stem, up to 200 cm high. The leaves are odd-pinnate with ovate leaflets, terminal one larger, three-lobed. Inflorescence a cymose panicle, 5–25 cm long, longer than wide, flowers fragrant, 5(–6)-merous, petals creamy-white.
Note: It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times and it remainds popular as a herbal remedy – acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin.
These images were taken in Czechia, Moravia, Brno, river Svratka (July 2005).
