ΑΝΕΜΩΝΗ
Anemone coronaria
(Poppy anemone)
Botanical info:
Poppy anemone is an herbaceous perennial tuberous plant growing to 20–40 cm (rarely up to 60) tall, with a basal rosette of a few leaves, flowering in winter and early spring (December – April). It grows naturally in phrygana, and low shrublands expanding over the Mediterranean coasts, and reaching east to Caucasus.
Hippocratic legacy:
a. In Diseases of Women 1 is described:
a. As uterus softener.
b. In Nature of Women is recommended:
a. For the treatment of hysteria.
b. Ιn linen/woolen fabric for internal use as purgative.
Other uses:
Poppy anemones share the acrid and bitter nature of almost all plants of the Ranunculuceae family to which it belongs, and the leaves and flowers should not be eaten. The toxic principle has been extracted from three species, though no fatal results have been recorded. It has been used for poisoning arrows, and in France, swelling and blistering of the hands has resulted from using the juice as a stimulant to ulceration.